Systems and methods for storage of ue positioning capabilities in a network

ABSTRACT

The positioning capabilities of a User Equipment (UE) are stored in a core network to reduce positioning latency when the UE indicates that its positioning capabilities are stable and/or are long term valid. The UE may provide its positioning capabilities to a location server during a location session along with an indication of whether the positioning capabilities are stable. The location server may enable storage of the positioning capabilities for the UE in the core network, e.g., in the location server or another entity in the core network such as Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), if there is an indication that the positioning capabilities are stable. The AMF may include a UE identifier in location requests with which the location server may retrieve the UE positioning capabilities if stored at the location server or may include the UE positioning capabilities if stored at the AMF.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.63/171,072, entitled “STORAGE OF UE POSITIONING CAPABILITIES IN ANETWORK,” filed Apr. 5, 2021, which is assigned to the assignee hereofand which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to communication, and morespecifically to techniques for supporting location services for userequipments (UEs).

Relevant Background

Wireless communication systems have developed through variousgenerations, including a first-generation analog wireless phone service(1G), a second-generation (2G) digital wireless phone service (includinginterim 2.5G and 2.75G networks), a third-generation (3G) high speeddata, Internet-capable wireless service and a fourth-generation (4G)service (e.g., LTE or WiMax). A fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR)standard calls for higher data transfer speeds, greater numbers ofconnections, and better coverage, among other improvements. 5G NR,according to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance, is designedto provide data rates of several tens of megabits per second to each oftens of thousands of users, with 1 gigabit per second to tens of workerson an office floor.

For some applications, it may be useful or essential to be able toobtain a location of a mobile device through a wireless communicationsystem. For example, this may enable tracking of the mobile device forsuch applications as navigation assistance, public safety support ormanagement of moving objects in a factory or warehouse. This may alsoassist one off location of a wireless caller for an emergency servicescall and one off or multiple location provision of people, vehicles andother objects. Power efficiency and latency reduction during suchpositioning services may typically be desirable.

SUMMARY

The positioning capabilities of a User Equipment (UE) are stored in acore network to reduce positioning latency when the UE indicates thatits positioning capabilities are stable and/or are long term valid. TheUE may provide its positioning capabilities to a location server duringa location session along with an indication of whether the positioningcapabilities are stable. The location server may enable storage of thepositioning capabilities for the UE in the core network, e.g., in thelocation server or another entity in the core network such as Access andMobility Management Function (AMF), if there is an indication that thepositioning capabilities are stable. The AMF may include a UE identifierin location requests with which the location server may retrieve the UEpositioning capabilities if stored at the location server or may includethe UE positioning capabilities if stored at the AMF.

In one implementation, a method performed by a User Equipment (UE) forsupporting positioning of the UE in a wireless network, includesreceiving a request for positioning capabilities message from a locationserver in a core network for the wireless network; and sending a providepositioning capabilities message to the location server, the providepositioning capabilities message comprising positioning capabilities ofthe UE and an indication as to whether the positioning capabilities ofthe UE are stable or are variable, wherein the positioning capabilitiesof the UE are stored in the core network when the indication indicatesthat the positioning capabilities of the UE are stable.

In one implementation, a User Equipment (UE) configured for supportingpositioning of the UE in a wireless network, includes a wirelesstransceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with entities in thewireless network; at least one memory; at least one processor coupled tothe wireless transceiver and the at least one memory, wherein the atleast one processor is configured to: receive, via the wirelesstransceiver, a request for positioning capabilities message from alocation server in a core network for the wireless network; and send,via the wireless transceiver, a provide positioning capabilities messageto the location server, the provide positioning capabilities messagecomprising positioning capabilities of the UE and an indication as towhether the positioning capabilities of the UE are stable or arevariable, wherein the positioning capabilities of the UE are stored inthe core network when the indication indicates that the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable.

In one implementation, a User Equipment (UE) configured for supportingpositioning of the UE in a wireless network, includes means forreceiving a request for positioning capabilities message from a locationserver in a core network for the wireless network; and means for sendinga provide positioning capabilities message to the location server, theprovide positioning capabilities message comprising positioningcapabilities of the UE and an indication as to whether the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable or are variable, wherein thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stored in the core network whenthe indication indicates that the positioning capabilities of the UE arestable.

In one implementation, a non-transitory storage medium including programcode stored thereon, the program code is operable to configure at leastone processor in a User Equipment (UE) for supporting positioning of theUE in a wireless network, the program code comprising instructions to:receive a request for positioning capabilities message from a locationserver in a core network for the wireless network; and send a providepositioning capabilities message to the location server, the providepositioning capabilities message comprising positioning capabilities ofthe UE and an indication as to whether the positioning capabilities ofthe UE are stable or are variable, wherein the positioning capabilitiesof the UE are stored in the core network when the indication indicatesthat the positioning capabilities of the UE are stable.

In one implementation, a method performed by a location server in a corenetwork for a wireless network for supporting positioning of a UserEquipment (UE) in the wireless network, includes receiving positioningcapabilities for the UE in a first location session, the positioningcapabilities for the UE received from the UE in response to a requestfor positioning capabilities sent to the UE or received unsolicited fromthe UE, the positioning capabilities including an indication of whetherthe positioning capabilities are stable or are variable; and enablingstorage of the positioning capabilities for the UE in the core networkif the indication indicates that the positioning capabilities arestable.

In one implementation, a location server in a core network for awireless network configured for supporting positioning of a UserEquipment (UE) in the wireless network, includes an external interfaceconfigured to wirelessly communicate with entities in the wirelessnetwork; at least one memory; at least one processor coupled to theexternal interface and the at least one memory, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to: receive, via the external interface,positioning capabilities for the UE in a first location session, thepositioning capabilities for the UE received from the UE in response toa request for positioning capabilities sent to the UE or receivedunsolicited from the UE, the positioning capabilities including anindication of whether the positioning capabilities are stable or arevariable; and enable storage of the positioning capabilities for the UEin the core network if the indication indicates that the positioningcapabilities are stable.

In one implementation, a location server in a core network for awireless network configured for supporting positioning of a UserEquipment (UE) in the wireless network, includes means for receivingpositioning capabilities for the UE in a first location session, thepositioning capabilities for the UE received from the UE in response toa request for positioning capabilities sent to the UE or receivedunsolicited from the UE, the positioning capabilities including anindication of whether the positioning capabilities are stable or arevariable; and means for enabling storage of the positioning capabilitiesfor the UE in the core network if the indication indicates that thepositioning capabilities are stable.

In one implementation, a non-transitory storage medium including programcode stored thereon, the program code is operable to configure at leastone processor in a location server in a core network for a wirelessnetwork for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) in thewireless network, the program code comprising instructions to: receivepositioning capabilities for the UE in a first location session, thepositioning capabilities for the UE received from the UE in response toa request for positioning capabilities sent to the UE or receivedunsolicited from the UE, the positioning capabilities including anindication of whether the positioning capabilities are stable or arevariable; and enable storage of the positioning capabilities for the UEin the core network if the indication indicates that the positioningcapabilities are stable.

In one implementation, a method performed by a first entity in a corenetwork for a wireless network for supporting positioning of a UserEquipment (UE) in the wireless network, includes storing positioningcapabilities for the UE when the UE indicates that the positioningcapabilities are stable; and sending a location request to a locationserver wherein the location request includes the stored positioningcapabilities for the UE.

In one implementation, a first entity in a core network for a wirelessnetwork configured for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE)in the wireless network, includes an external interface configured towirelessly communicate with entities in the wireless network; at leastone memory; at least one processor coupled to the external interface andthe at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor isconfigured to: store positioning capabilities for the UE when the UEindicates that the positioning capabilities are stable; and send, viathe external interface, a location request to a location server whereinthe location request includes the stored positioning capabilities forthe UE.

In one implementation, a first entity in a core network for a wirelessnetwork configured for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE)in the wireless network, includes means for storing positioningcapabilities for the UE when the UE indicates that the positioningcapabilities are stable; and means for sending a location request to alocation server wherein the location request includes the storedpositioning capabilities for the UE.

In one implementation, a non-transitory storage medium including programcode stored thereon, the program code is operable to configure at leastone processor in a first entity in a core network for a wireless networkfor supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) in the wirelessnetwork, the program code comprising instructions to: store positioningcapabilities for the UE when the UE indicates that the positioningcapabilities are stable; and send a location request to a locationserver wherein the location request includes the stored positioningcapabilities for the UE.

In one implementation, a method performed by a first entity in a corenetwork for a wireless network for supporting positioning of a UserEquipment (UE) in the wireless network, includes receiving a locationrequest for the UE; sending a location request message to a locationserver, wherein the location request message comprises an identificationfor the UE, wherein positioning capabilities for the UE and theidentification for the UE are stored by the location server when thereis an indication from the UE that the positioning capabilities for theUE are stable.

In one implementation, a first entity in a core network for a wirelessnetwork configured for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE)in the wireless network, includes an external interface configured towirelessly communicate with entities in the wireless network; at leastone memory; at least one processor coupled to the external interface andthe at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor isconfigured to: receive, via the external interface, a location requestfor the UE; send, via the external interface, a location request messageto a location server, wherein the location request message comprises anidentification for the UE, wherein positioning capabilities for the UEand the identification for the UE are stored by the location server whenthere is an indication from the UE that the positioning capabilities forthe UE are stable.

In one implementation, a first entity in a core network for a wirelessnetwork configured for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE)in the wireless network, includes means for receiving a location requestfor the UE; means for sending a location request message to a locationserver, wherein the location request message comprises an identificationfor the UE, wherein positioning capabilities for the UE and theidentification for the UE are stored by the location server when thereis an indication from the UE that the positioning capabilities for theUE are stable.

In one implementation, a non-transitory storage medium including programcode stored thereon, the program code is operable to configure at leastone processor in a first entity in a core network for a wireless networkfor supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) in the wirelessnetwork, the program code comprising instructions to: receive a locationrequest for the UE; send a location request message to a locationserver, wherein the location request message comprises an identificationfor the UE, wherein positioning capabilities for the UE and theidentification for the UE are stored by the location server when thereis an indication from the UE that the positioning capabilities for theUE are stable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are presented to aid in the description ofvarious aspects of the disclosure and are provided solely forillustration of the aspects and not limitation thereof.

FIG. 1 illustrates a high-level system architecture of a wirelesscommunications system in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a signaling flow that illustrates various messages sentbetween components of a communication system for storing UE positioningcapabilities in a core network.

FIG. 3 shows a signaling flow that illustrates various messages sentbetween components of a communication system for storing UE positioningcapabilities in a core network.

FIG. 4 shows a signaling flow that illustrates various messages sentbetween components of a communication system for storing UE positioningcapabilities in a core network.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating certain exemplaryfeatures of a UE configured for storing UE positioning capabilities in acore network.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating certain exemplaryfeatures of a location server configured for storing UE positioningcapabilities in a core network.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating certain exemplaryfeatures of an entity in a core network.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart for an exemplary method for supporting locationservices for a UE performed by the UE.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart for an exemplary method for supporting locationservices for a UE performed by a location server.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart for an exemplary method for supportinglocation services for a UE performed by an entity in a core network.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart for an exemplary method for supportinglocation services for a UE performed by an entity in a core network.

Elements, stages, steps, and/or actions with the same reference label indifferent drawings may correspond to one another (e.g., may be similaror identical to one another). Further, some elements in the variousdrawings are labelled using a numeric prefix followed by an alphabeticor numeric suffix. Elements with the same numeric prefix but differentsuffixes may be different instances of the same type of element. Thenumeric prefix without any suffix is used herein to reference anyelement with this numeric prefix. For example, different instances110-1, 110-2, 110-3 of a base station are shown in FIG. 1. A referenceto a base station 110 then refers to any of base stations 110-1, 110-2,110-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the disclosure are provided in the following description andrelated drawings directed to various examples provided for illustrationpurposes. Alternate aspects may be devised without departing from thescope of the disclosure. Additionally, well-known elements of thedisclosure will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as notto obscure the relevant details of the disclosure.

The words “exemplary” and/or “example” are used herein to mean “servingas an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described hereinas “exemplary” and/or “example” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects. Likewise, the term“aspects of the disclosure” does not require that all aspects of thedisclosure include the discussed feature, advantage or mode ofoperation.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the information andsignals described below may be represented using any of a variety ofdifferent technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions,commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may bereferenced throughout the description below may be represented byvoltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles,optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof, depending inpart on the particular application, in part on the desired design, inpart on the corresponding technology, etc.

Further, many aspects are described in terms of sequences of actions tobe performed by, for example, elements of a computing device. It will berecognized that various actions described herein can be performed byspecific circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuits(ASICs)), by program instructions being executed by one or moreprocessors, or by a combination of both. Additionally, the sequence(s)of actions described herein can be considered to be embodied entirelywithin any form of non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumhaving stored therein a corresponding set of computer instructions that,upon execution, would cause or instruct an associated processor of adevice to perform the functionality described herein. Thus, the variousaspects of the disclosure may be embodied in a number of differentforms, all of which have been contemplated to be within the scope of theclaimed subject matter. In addition, for each of the aspects describedherein, the corresponding form of any such aspects may be describedherein as, for example, “logic configured to” perform the describedaction.

As used herein, the terms “user equipment” (UE) and “base station” arenot intended to be specific or otherwise limited to any particular RadioAccess Technology (RAT), unless otherwise noted. In general, a UE may beany wireless communication device (e.g., a mobile phone, router, tabletcomputer, laptop computer, consumer tracking device for trackingconsumer items, packages, assets, or entities such as individuals andpets, wearable (e.g., smartwatch, glasses, augmented reality(AR)/virtual reality (VR) headset, etc.), vehicle (e.g., automobile,motorcycle, bicycle, etc.), Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.) usedby a user to communicate over a wireless communications network. A UEmay be mobile or may (e.g., at certain times) be stationary, and maycommunicate with a Radio Access Network (RAN). As used herein, the term“UE” may be referred to interchangeably as an “access terminal” or “AT,”a “client device,” a “wireless device,” a “subscriber device,” a“subscriber terminal,” a “subscriber station,” a “user terminal” or UT,a “mobile terminal,” a “mobile station,” “mobile device,” or variationsthereof. Generally, UEs can communicate with a core network via a RAN,and through the core network the UEs can be connected with externalnetworks such as the Internet and with other UEs. Of course, othermechanisms of connecting to the core network and/or the Internet arealso possible for the UEs, such as over wired access networks, wirelesslocal area network (WLAN) networks (e.g., based on IEEE 802.11, etc.)and so on.

A base station may operate according to one of several RATs incommunication with UEs depending on the network in which it is deployed,and may be alternatively referred to as an access point (AP), a networknode, a NodeB, an evolved NodeB (eNB), a New Radio (NR) Node B (alsoreferred to as a gNB), etc. In addition, in some systems a base stationmay provide purely edge node signaling functions while in other systemsit may provide additional control and/or network management functions. Acommunication link through which UEs can send signals to a base stationis called an uplink (UL) channel (e.g., a reverse traffic channel, areverse control channel, an access channel, etc.). A communication linkthrough which the base station can send signals to UEs is called adownlink (DL) or forward link channel (e.g., a paging channel, a controlchannel, a broadcast channel, a forward traffic channel, etc.). As usedherein the term traffic channel (TCH) can refer to either an UL/reverseor DL/forward traffic channel.

The term “base station” may refer to a single physical transmissionpoint or to multiple physical transmission points that may or may not beco-located. For example, where the term “base station” refers to asingle physical transmission point, the physical transmission point maybe an antenna of the base station corresponding to a cell of the basestation. Where the term “base station” refers to multiple co-locatedphysical transmission points, the physical transmission points may be anarray of antennas (e.g., as in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)system or where the base station employs beamforming) of the basestation. Where the term “base station” refers to multiple non-co-locatedphysical transmission points, the physical transmission points may be adistributed antenna system (DAS) (a network of spatially separatedantennas connected to a common source via a transport medium) or aremote radio head (RRH) (a remote base station connected to a servingbase station). Alternatively, the non-co-located physical transmissionpoints may be the serving base station receiving the measurement reportfrom the UE and a neighbor base station whose reference RF signals theUE is measuring.

To support positioning of a UE, two broad classes of location solutionhave been defined: control plane and user plane. With control plane (CP)location, signaling related to positioning and support of positioningmay be carried over existing network (and UE) interfaces and usingexisting protocols dedicated to the transfer of signaling. With userplane (UP) location, signaling related to positioning and support ofpositioning may be carried as part of other data using such protocols asthe Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and UserDatagram Protocol (UDP).

The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has defined controlplane location solutions for UEs that use radio access according toGlobal System for Mobile communications GSM (2G), Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS) (3G), LTE (4G) and New Radio (NR) forFifth Generation (5G). These solutions are defined in 3GPP TechnicalSpecifications (TSs) 23.271 and 23.273 (common parts), 43.059 (GSMaccess), 25.305 (UMTS access), 36.305 (LTE access) and 38.305 (NRaccess). The Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) has similarly defined a UPlocation solution known as Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) which canbe used to locate a UE accessing any of a number of radio interfacesthat support IP packet access such as General Packet Radio Service(GPRS) with GSM, GPRS with UMTS, or IP access with LTE or NR.

Both CP and UP location solutions may employ a location server (LS) tosupport positioning. The location server may be part of or accessiblefrom a serving network or a home network for a UE or may simply beaccessible over the Internet or over a local Intranet. If positioning ofa UE is needed, a location server may instigate a session (e.g. a CPlocation session or a SUPL session) with the UE and coordinate locationmeasurements by the UE and determination of an estimated location of theUE. During a location session, a location server may request positioningcapabilities of the UE (or the UE may provide them to the locationserver without a request), may provide assistance data to the UE (e.g.if requested by the UE or in the absence of a request) and may request alocation estimate or location measurements from a UE, e.g. for AssistedGNSS (A-GNSS), UL-TDOA, DL-TDOA, AoD, AoA, Multi-cell RTT (also referredto as Multi RTT), and/or Enhanced Cell ID (ECID) position methods.Assistance data may be used by a UE to acquire and measure GNSS signalsand/or Positioning Reference Signals (PRSs), e.g. by providing expectedcharacteristics of these signals to the UE such as frequency, expectedtime of arrival, signal coding, signal Doppler.

In a UE based mode of operation, assistance data may also or instead beused by a UE to help determine a location estimate from the resultinglocation measurements (e.g., if the assistance data provides satelliteephemeris data in the case of A-GNSS positioning or base stationlocations and other base station characteristics such as PRS timing inthe case of terrestrial positioning using, e.g., DL-TDOA, DL-AoD,Multi-RTT, etc.).

In a UE assisted mode of operation, a UE may return locationmeasurements to a location server which may then determine an estimatedlocation of the UE based on these measurements and possibly based alsoon other known or configured data (e.g. satellite ephemeris data forA-GNSS location or base station characteristics including base stationlocations and possibly PRS timing in the case of terrestrial positioningusing, e.g., DL-TDOA, DL-AoD, Multi-RTT, etc.).

In another standalone mode of operation, a UE may make location relatedmeasurements without any positioning assistance data from a locationserver and may further compute a location or a change in locationwithout any positioning assistance data from a location server. Positionmethods that may be used in a standalone mode include GPS and GNSS (e.g.if a UE obtains satellite orbital data from data broadcast by GPS andGNSS satellites themselves) as well as sensors.

In the case of 3GPP CP location, a location server may be an enhancedserving mobile location center (E-SMLC) in the case of LTE access, astandalone SMLC (SAS) in the case of UMTS access, a serving mobilelocation center (SMLC) in the case of GSM access, or a LocationManagement Function (LMF) in the case of 5G NR access. In the case ofOMA SUPL location, a location server may be a SUPL Location Platform(SLP) which may act as any of: (i) a home SLP (H-SLP) if in orassociated with the home network of a UE or if providing a permanentsubscription to a UE for location services; (ii) a discovered SLP(D-SLP) if in or associated with some other (non-home) network or if notassociated with any network; (iii) an Emergency SLP (E-SLP) ifsupporting location for an emergency call instigated by the UE; or (iv)a visited SLP (V-SLP) if in or associated with a serving network or acurrent local area for a UE.

During a location session, a location server and UE may exchangemessages defined according to some positioning protocol in order tocoordinate the determination of an estimated location. Possiblepositioning protocols may include, for example, the LTE PositioningProtocol (LPP) defined by 3GPP in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS)37.355 and the LPP Extensions (LPPe) protocol defined by OMA in OMA TSsOMA-TS-LPPe-V1_0, OMA-TS-LPPe-V1_1 and OMA-TS-LPPe-V2_0. The LPP andLPPe protocols may be used in combination where an LPP message containsone embedded LPPe message. The combined LPP and LPPe protocols may bereferred to as LPP/LPPe. LPP and LPP/LPPe may be used to help supportthe 3GPP control plane solution for LTE or NR access, in which case LPPor LPP/LPPe messages are exchanged between a UE and E-SMLC or between aUE and LMF. LPP or LPPe messages may be exchanged between a UE andE-SMLC via a serving Mobility Management Entity (MME) and a servingeNodeB (eNB) for the UE. LPP or LPPe messages may also be exchangedbetween a UE and LMF via a serving Access and Mobility ManagementFunction (AMF) and a serving NR Node B (gNB) for the UE. LPP andLPP/LPPe may also be used to help support the OMA SUPL solution for manytypes of wireless access that support IP messaging (such as LTE, NR andWiFi), where LPP or LPP/LPPe messages are exchanged between a SUPLEnabled Terminal (SET), which is the term used for a UE with SUPL, andan SLP, and may be transported within SUPL messages such as a SUPL POSor SUPL POS INIT message

A location server and a base station (e.g. an eNodeB (eNB) for LTEaccess or an NR NodeB (gNodeB or gNB) for NR access) may exchangemessages to enable the location server to (i) obtain positionmeasurements for a particular UE from the base station, or (ii) obtainlocation information from the base station not related to a particularUE such as the location coordinates of an antenna for the base station,the cells (e.g. cell identities) supported by the base station, celltiming for the base station and/or parameters for signals transmitted bythe base station such as PRS signals. In the case of LTE access, the LPPA (LPPa) protocol defined in 3GPP TS 36.455 may be used to transfer suchmessages between a base station that is an eNodeB and a location serverthat is an E-SMLC. In the case of NR access, the New Radio PositionProtocol A (NRPPa) protocol defined in 3GPP TS 38.455 may be used totransfer such messages between a base station that is a gNodeB and alocation server that is an LMF.

During a location session, the location server typically obtains thepositioning capabilities from the UE, e.g., in response to a request forpositioning capabilities sent to the UE by the location server. Thepositioning capabilities of the UE are used to determine the type ofpositioning procedure and positioning measurement(s) to use during thelocation session, and to generate and provide any necessary assistancedata to the UE accordingly. Obtaining the positioning capabilities ofthe UE via signaling to and from the UE increases latency in thelocation session and may also slightly increase UE power expenditure.The positioning latency (and UE power expenditure) would be reduced ifthe positioning capabilities of the UE could be obtained prior toinitiating the location session, e.g., by storing positioningcapabilities in a core network before the positioning request isreceived by the core network. For example, by storing positioningcapabilities in the core network, positioning latency could be reducedby around 50 to 100 milliseconds (ms). For user cases where an externalLocation Service (LCS) Client is a person and not a machine or a server,latency requirements may be in the order of seconds, for which a latencyreduction of 50 to 100 ms would be negligible. However, a latencyreduction of, e.g., 50 to 100 ms may be advantageous for user cases withlow latency requirements (e.g. less than one second), which may beassociated with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) UEs or where theexternal LCS Client is a machine or server and not a person. Storingpositioning capabilities of a UE in the core network may requireadditional overhead for entities in the core network and the UE, whichmay not be justified for all user cases, but may be advantageous in someuser cases. The positioning capabilities of a UE, however, may notalways be static but may instead vary depending on the UEimplementation, UE state and configuration by a user. A consequence ofvarying positioning capabilities is that any positioning capabilitiespreviously stored by the core network could be in error at a later time.

As discussed herein, the positioning capabilities of a UE may be storedin the core network in a manner that reduces or eliminates errors causedby changes in the positioning capabilities. For example, the positioningcapabilities of a UE may be stored in the core network in response to anindication that the positioning capabilities for the UE are stableand/or long-term valid, e.g., the positioning capabilities for the UEare fixed and will not change over time. The UE, in one implementation,may provide its positioning capabilities to a location server during alocation session and may include an indication of whether thepositioning capabilities are stable and/or are not subject to variation.The location server may enable storage of the positioning capabilitiesfor the UE in the core network if the positioning capabilities areindicated as stable (or as not subject to variation). In someimplementations, the location server may store the positioningcapabilities for the UE. The positioning capabilities for the UE, forexample, may be associated with a UE identification and stored at thelocation server. A second entity in the core network, e.g., an AMF, mayprovide the UE identification to the location server in a locationrequest for subsequent location sessions, which the location server mayuse to retrieve the positioning capabilities for the UE. In someimplementations, the location server may send the positioningcapabilities for the UE to a second entity (e.g. an AMF) in the corenetwork for storage. For example, the location server may include thepositioning capabilities for the UE in a location response message tothe second entity during a first location session for storage, and thesecond entity may later retrieve and include the positioningcapabilities for the UE in a location request to the location server insubsequent location sessions. In another implementation, the UE mayprovide its positioning capabilities to an entity in the core network(e.g. an AMF) prior to entering a location session, e.g., duringRegistration of the UE, and the entity may store the positioningcapabilities for the UE based on an indication of stability (ornon-variability). The UE, for example, may include an explicitindication that its positioning capabilities are stable (ornon-variable), or the transmission of the positioning capabilities bythe UE may be an implicit indication that the positioning capabilitiesare stable (or non-variable). In subsequent location sessions, theentity may retrieve and include the positioning capabilities for the UEin a location request to a location server.

FIG. 1 shows an architecture based on a non-roaming 5G network tosupport UE positioning by storing the positioning capabilities for theUE in a core network as discussed herein. FIG. 1 illustrates acommunication system 100 that comprises a UE 102, which is sometimesreferred to herein as a “target UE”, since UE 102 may be the target of alocation request. FIG. 1 also shows components of a Fifth Generation(5G) network comprising a Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN)112, which includes base stations (BSs) sometimes referred to as NewRadio (NR) NodeBs or gNBs 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, and a next generation eNB(ng-eNB) 114, and a 5G Core Network (5GCN) 150 that is in communicationwith an external client 130. A 5G network may also be referred to as aNew Radio (NR) network; NG-RAN 112 may be referred to as an NR RAN or a5G RAN; and 5GCN 150 may be referred to as a Next Generation (NG) Corenetwork (NGC). The communication system 100 may further utilizeinformation from space vehicles (SVs) 190 for a Global NavigationSatellite System (GNSS) like GPS, GLONASS, Galileo or Beidou or someother local or regional Satellite Positioning System (SPS) such asIRNSS, EGNOS or WAAS. Additional components of the communication system100 are described below. The communication system 100 may includeadditional or alternative components.

FIG. 1 shows a serving gNB 110-1 for the UE 102 and neighbor gNBs 110-2,110-3, and ng-eNB 114. A neighbor gNB may be any gNB which is able toreceive and measure uplink (UL) signals transmitted by the UE 102 and/oris able to transmit a downlink (DL) reference signal (RS), e.g.,positioning reference signals (PRS), that can be received and measuredby the UE 102.

Entities in the NG-RAN 112 which transmit DL reference signals (RSs) tobe measured by a UE 102 for a particular location session are referredto generically as “Transmission Points” (TPs) and can include one ormore of the serving gNB 110-1, and neighbor gNBs 110-2, 110-3, andng-eNB 114.

Entities in the NG-RAN 112 which receive and measure UL signals (e.g. anRS) transmitted by a UE 102 for a particular location session arereferred to generically as “Reception Points” (RPs) and can include oneor more of the serving gNB 110-1, and neighbor gNBs 110-2, 110-3, andng-eNB 114.

It should be noted that FIG. 1 provides only a generalized illustrationof various components, any or all of which may be utilized asappropriate, and each of which may be duplicated or omitted, asnecessary. Specifically, although only one UE 102 is illustrated, itwill be understood that many UEs (e.g., hundreds, thousands, millions,etc.) may utilize the communication system 100. Similarly, thecommunication system 100 may include a larger or smaller number of SVs190, gNBs 110-1, 110-2, external clients 130, and/or other components.The illustrated connections that connect the various components in thecommunication system 100 include data and signaling connections whichmay include additional (intermediary) components, direct or indirectphysical and/or wireless connections, and/or additional networks.Furthermore, components may be rearranged, combined, separated,substituted, and/or omitted, depending on desired functionality.

While FIG. 1 illustrates a 5G-based network, similar networkimplementations and configurations may be used for other communicationtechnologies, such as 3G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), and IEEE 802.11WiFi etc. For example, where a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), e.g.,IEEE 802.11 radio interface, is used, the UE 102 may communicate with aWiFi Access Network (AN), as opposed to an NG-RAN, and accordingly,component 112 is sometimes referred to herein as an AN or as a RAN,denoted by the term “RAN”, “(R)AN” or “(R)AN 112”. In the case of an AN(e.g. IEEE 802.11 AN), the AN may be connected to a Non-3GPPInterworking Function (N3IWF) (e.g. in 5GCN 150) (not shown in FIG. 1),with the N3IWF connected to AMF 154.

The UE 102 may be any electronic device and may be referred to as adevice, a mobile device, a wireless device, a mobile terminal, aterminal, a mobile station (MS), a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL)Enabled Terminal (SET), or by some other name. The UE 102 may be astand-alone device or may be embedded in another device, e.g., a factorytool, that is to be monitored or tracked. Moreover, UE 102 maycorrespond to a smart watch, digital glasses, fitness monitor, smartcar, smart appliance, cellphone, smartphone, laptop, tablet, PDA,consumer tracking device for tracking consumer items, packages, assets,or entities such as individuals and pets, control device or some otherportable or moveable device. The UE 102 may include a single entity ormay include multiple entities such as in a personal area network where auser may employ audio, video and/or data I/O devices and/or body sensorsand a separate wireline or wireless modem. Typically, though notnecessarily, the UE 102 may support wireless communication using one ormore Radio Access Technologies (RATs) such as GSM, Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), LTE, High Rate PacketData (HRPD), IEEE 802.11 WiFi (also referred to as Wi-Fi), Bluetooth®(BT), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), 5G newradio (NR) (e.g., using the NG-RAN 112 and 5GCN 150), etc. The UE 102may also support wireless communication using a Wireless Local AreaNetwork (WLAN) which may connect to other networks (e.g. the Internet)using a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or packet cable for example. Theuse of one or more of these RATs may allow the UE 102 to communicatewith an external client 130 (e.g. via UPF 158 in 5GCN 150, or possiblyvia a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 160, and/or allow theexternal client 130 to receive location information regarding the UE 102(e.g., via the GMLC 160).

The UE 102 may enter a connected state with a wireless communicationnetwork that may include the NG-RAN 112. In one example, the UE 102 maycommunicate with a cellular communication network by transmittingwireless signals to, or receiving wireless signals from, a cellulartransceiver in the NG-RAN 112, such as a gNB 110-1. A transceiverprovides user and control planes protocol terminations toward the UE 102and may be referred to as a base station, a base transceiver station, aradio base station, a radio transceiver, a radio network controller, atransceiver function, a base station subsystem (BSS), an extendedservice set (ESS), or by some other suitable terminology.

In particular implementations, the UE 102 may have circuitry andprocessing resources capable of obtaining location related measurements.Location related measurements obtained by UE 102 may includemeasurements of signals received from SVs 190 and/or may includemeasurements of signals received from terrestrial transmitters fixed atknown locations (e.g., such as gNBs 110). UE 102 or LMF 152 to which UE102 may send the measurements, may then obtain a location estimate forthe UE 102 based on these location related measurements using any one ofseveral position methods such as, for example, GNSS, Assisted GNSS(A-GNSS), Angle of Departure (AoD), Downlink Time Difference Of Arrival(DL-TDOA), Round-Trip Time (RTT), Multi RTT, WLAN (also referred to asWiFi) positioning, or Enhanced Cell ID (ECID) or combinations thereof.In some of these techniques (e.g. A-GNSS, RTT, Multi RTT, and DL-TDOA),pseudoranges or timing differences may be measured at UE 102 relative tothree or more terrestrial transmitters (e.g. gNBs) fixed at knownlocations or relative to four or more SVs 190 with accurately knownorbital data, or combinations thereof, based at least in part, onpilots, positioning reference signals (PRS) or other positioning relatedsignals transmitted by the transmitters or satellites and received atthe UE 102.

A location server in FIG. 1 may correspond to, e.g., Location ManagementFunction (LMF) 152 or Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) LocationPlatform (SLP) 162, and may be capable of providing positioningassistance data to UE 102 including, for example, information regardingsignals to be measured (e.g., expected signal timing, signal coding,signal frequencies, signal Doppler), locations and identities ofterrestrial transmitters (e.g. gNBs) and/or signal, timing and orbitalinformation for GNSS SVs to facilitate positioning techniques such asA-GNSS, AoD, DL-TDOA, RTT, Multi RTT and ECID. The facilitation mayinclude improving signal acquisition and measurement accuracy by UE 102and, in some cases, enabling UE 102 to compute its estimated locationbased on the location measurements. For example, a location server (e.g.LMF 152 or SLP 162) may include an almanac, also referred to as a basestation almanac (BSA), which indicates locations and identities ofcellular transceivers and/or local transceivers in a particular regionor regions such as a particular venue, and may provide informationdescriptive of signals transmitted by a cellular base station or AP(e.g. a gNB 110 or WiFi AP) such as transmission power and signaltiming. A UE 102 may obtain measurements of signal strengths (e.g.received signal strength indication (RSSI)) for signals received fromcellular transceivers and/or local transceivers and/or may obtain asignal to noise ratio (S/N), a reference signal received power (RSRP), areference signal received quality (RSRQ), a time of arrival (TOA), anangle of arrival (AoA), an angle of departure (AoD), a receivetime-transmission time difference (Rx-Tx), or a round trip signalpropagation time (RTT) between UE 102 and a cellular transceiver (e.g. agNB 110) or a local transceiver (e.g. a WiFi access point (AP)). A UE102 may use these measurements together with assistance data (e.g.terrestrial almanac data or GNSS satellite data such as GNSS Almanacand/or GNSS Ephemeris information) received from a location server (e.g.LMF 152 or SLP 162) or broadcast by a base station (e.g. a gNB 110-1,110-2) in NG-RAN 112 to determine a location for UE 102.

In some implementations, network entities are used to assist in locationof a UE 102. For example, entities in a network such as gNBs 110-1,110-2 may measure UL signals transmitted by UE 102. The UL signals mayinclude or comprise UL reference signals such as UL positioningreference signals (PRSs) or UL Sounding Reference Signals (SRSs). Theentities obtaining the location measurements (e.g. gNBs 110-1, 110-2)may then transfer the location measurements to the UE 102 or LMF 152,which may use the measurements to determine a location estimate for UE102. Examples of location measurements that may use UL signals caninclude an RSSI, RSRP, RSRQ, TOA, Rx-Tx, AoA and RTT.

An estimate of a location of the UE 102 may be referred to as alocation, location estimate, location fix, fix, position, positionestimate or position fix, and may be geodetic, thus providing locationcoordinates for the UE 102 (e.g., latitude and longitude) which may ormay not include an altitude component (e.g., height above sea level,height above or depth below ground level, floor level or basementlevel). Alternatively, a location of the UE 102 may be expressed as acivic location (e.g., as a postal address or the designation of somepoint or small area in a building such as a particular room or floor). Alocation of the UE 102 may also be expressed as an area or volume(defined either geodetically or in civic form) within which the UE 102is expected to be located with some probability or confidence level(e.g., 67%, 95%, etc.). A location of the UE 102 may further be arelative location comprising, for example, a distance and direction orrelative X, Y (and Z) coordinates defined relative to some origin at aknown location which may be defined geodetically, in civic terms, or byreference to a point, area, or volume indicated on a map, floor plan orbuilding plan. The location may be expressed as an absolute locationestimate for the UE, such as location coordinates or address, or as arelative location estimate for the UE, such as a distance and directionfrom a previous location estimate or from a known absolute location. Thelocation of the UE may include a linear velocity, an angular velocity, alinear acceleration, an angular acceleration, an angular orientation forthe UE, e.g., the orientation of the UE relative to a fixed global orlocal coordinate system, an identification of a trigger event forlocating the UE, or some combination of these. For example, triggerevents may include an area event, a motion event or a velocity event. Anarea event, for example, may be the UE moving into a defined area,moving out of the area and/or remaining in the area. A motion event, forexample, may include movement of the UE by a threshold straight linedistance or threshold distance along a UE trajectory. A velocity event,for example, may include the UE attaining a minimum or maximum velocity,a threshold increase and/or decrease of velocity, and/or a thresholdchange in direction. In the description contained herein, the use of theterm location may comprise any of these variants unless indicatedotherwise. When computing the location of a UE, it is common to solvefor local x, y, and possibly z coordinates and then, if needed, convertthe local coordinates into absolute ones (e.g. for latitude, longitudeand altitude above or below mean sea level).

As shown in FIG. 1, pairs of gNBs 110 in NG-RAN 112 may be connected toone another, e.g., directly as shown in FIG. 1 or indirectly via othergNBs 110. Access to the 5G network is provided to UE 102 via wirelesscommunication between the UE 102 and one or more of the gNBs 110, whichmay provide wireless communication access to the 5GCN 150 on behalf ofthe UE 102 using 5G (e.g. NR). In FIG. 1, the serving gNB for UE 102 isassumed to be gNB 110-1, although other gNBs (e.g. gNB 110-2, 110-3, orng-eNB 114) may act as a serving gNB if UE 102 moves to another locationor may act as a secondary gNB to provide additional throughout andbandwidth to UE 102. Some gNBs in FIG. 1 (e.g. gNB 110-2, 110-3, orng-eNB 114) may be configured to function as positioning-only beaconswhich may transmit signals (e.g. directional PRS) to assist positioningof UE 102 but may not receive signals from UE 102 or from other UEs.

As noted, while FIG. 1 depicts nodes configured to communicate accordingto 5G communication protocols, nodes configured to communicate accordingto other communication protocols, such as, for example, LTE protocols,may be used. Such nodes, configured to communicate using differentprotocols, may be controlled, at least in part, by a core network. Thus,a RAN may include any combination of gNBs 110, evolved Node Bs (eNBs)supporting LTE, or other types of base stations or access points.

The gNBs 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, and ng-eNB 114 can communicate with theAccess and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 154, which, forpositioning functionality, may communicate with a Location ManagementFunction (LMF) 152. The AMF 154 may support mobility of the UE 102,including cell change and handover and may participate in supporting asignaling connection to the UE 102 and possibly helping establish andrelease Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sessions for UE 102 supported by theUPF 158. Other functions of AMF 154 may include: termination of acontrol plane (CP) interface from NG-RAN 112; termination of Non-AccessStratum (NAS) signaling connections from UEs such as UE 102, NASciphering and integrity protection; registration management; connectionmanagement; reachability management; mobility management; accessauthentication and authorization.

The GMLC 160 may support a location request for the UE 102 received froman external client 130 and may forward such a location request to aserving AMF 154 for UE 102. The AMF 154 may then forward the locationrequest to LMF 152 which may obtain one or more location estimates forUE 102 (e.g. according to the request from external client 130) and mayreturn the location estimate(s) to AMF 154, which may return thelocation estimate(s) to external client 130 via GMLC 160. GMLC 160 maycontain subscription information for an external client 130 and mayauthenticate and authorize a location request for UE 102 from externalclient 130. GMLC 160 may further initiate a location session for UE 102by sending a location request for UE 102 to AMF 154 and may include inthe location request an identity for UE 102 and the type of locationbeing requested (e.g. such as a current location or a sequence ofperiodic or triggered locations).

As illustrated, a Unified Data Management (UDM) 161 may be connected tothe GMLC 160. The UDM 161 is analogous to a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)for LTE access, and if desired, the UDM 161 may be combined with an HSS.The UDM 161 is a central database that contains user-related andsubscription-related information for UE 102 and may perform thefollowing functions: UE authentication, UE identification, accessauthorization, registration and mobility management, subscriptionmanagement and Short Message Service management.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, an external client 130 may beconnected to the core network 150 via the GMLC 160 and/or the SLP 162.The external client 130 may optionally be connected to the core network150 and/or to an SLP 164, that is external to 5GCN 150, via the Internet175. The external client 130 may be a server, a web server, or a userdevice, such as a personal computer, a UE, etc.

To support services including location services from external clients130 for Internet of Things (IoT) UEs, a Network Exposure Function (NEF)163 may be included. The NEF 163, for example, may function to obtain acurrent or last known location for a UE 102, may obtain an indication ofa change in location for a UE 102, or an indication of when a UE 102becomes available (or reachable). An external client 130 (e.g. anexternal Client 130 that is an Application Function (AF) 132) may accessNEF 163 in order to obtain location information for UE 102. The NEF 163may be connected to the GMLC 160 to support last known location, currentlocation and/or deferred periodic and triggered location for the UE 102.If desired, the NEF 163 may include, or may be combined with, the GMLC160, and may then obtain location information for UE 102 from LMF 152via AMF 154.

The LMF 152 and the gNB 110-1 may communicate using NRPPa, with NRPPamessages being transferred between the gNB 110-1 and the LMF 152 via theAMF 154. Further, the LMF 152 and UE 102 may communicate using the LTEPositioning Protocol (LPP) defined in 3GPP TS 37.355, where LPP (orLPP/LPPe) messages are transferred between the UE 102 and the LMF 152via the serving AMF 154 and the serving gNB 110-1 for UE 102. Forexample, LPP messages may be transferred between the AMF 154 and the UE102 using a 5G Non-Access Stratum (NAS) protocol. The LPP protocol maybe used to support positioning of UE 102 using UE assisted and/or UEbased position methods such as Assisted GNSS (A-GNSS), Real TimeKinematic (RTK), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Angle of Departure(AoD), DL Time Difference of Arrival (DL-TDOA), Round-Trip Time (RTT),Multi RTT, and/or Enhanced Cell Identity (ECID). The NRPPa protocol maybe used to support positioning of UE 102 using network based positionmethods such as UL-TDOA or ECID (when used with measurements obtained byor received from a gNB 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, or ng-eNB 114) and/or may beused by LMF 152 to obtain location related information from gNBs 110such as parameters defining positioning reference signal (PRS)transmission from gNBs 110 for support of DL-TDOA, AoD, Multi RTT orother position methods.

GNBs 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, or ng-eNB 114 may communicate with AMF 154using a Next Generation Application Protocol (NGAP), e.g. as defined in3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 38.413. NGAP may enable AMF 154 torequest a location of a UE 102 from a serving gNB 110-1 for target UE102 and may enable gNB 110-1 to return a location for UE 102 to the AMF154.

A gNB (e.g. gNB 110-1) may communicate with a UE 102 using a RadioResource Control (RRC) protocol, e.g. as defined in 3GPP TS 38.331. RRCmay enable a gNB (e.g. gNB 110-1) to request the UE 102 to transmit anUL SRS or UL PRS to enable the gNB 110-1 and/or other gNBs 110 to obtainUL location measurements of the transmitted UL SRS or UL PRS.

As previously noted, with a UE assisted position method, UE 102 mayobtain location measurements (e.g. measurements of RSSI, Rx-Tx, RTT,Multi-RTT, AoA, reference signal time difference (RSTD), RSRP and/orRSRQ for gNBs 110, or ng-eNB 114 or WLAN APs, or measurements of GNSSpseudorange, code phase and/or carrier phase for SVs 190) and send themeasurements to an entity performing a location server function, e.g.,LMF 152, or SLP 162, for computation of a location estimate for UE 102.With a UE based position method, UE 102 may obtain location measurements(e.g. which may be the same as or similar to location measurements for aUE assisted position method) and may compute a location of UE 102 (e.g.with the help of assistance data received from a location server such asLMF 152 or SLP 162). With a network based position method, one or morebase stations (e.g. gNBs 110) or APs may obtain location measurements(e.g. measurements of RSSI, RTT, AoD, RSRP, RSRQ, Rx-Tx or TOA forsignals transmitted by UE 102) and/or may receive measurements obtainedby UE 102, and may send the measurements to a location server, e.g., LMF152, for computation of a location estimate for UE 102.

A gNB 110 in NG-RAN 112 may also broadcast positioning assistance datato UEs such as UE 102.

As illustrated, a Session Management Function (SMF) 156 connects the AMF154 and the UPF 158. The SMF 156 may have the capability to control botha local and a central UPF within a PDU session. SMF 156 may manage theestablishment, modification and release of PDU sessions for UE 102,perform IP address allocation and management for UE 102, act as aDynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server for UE 102, and selectand control a UPF 158 on behalf of UE 102.

The User Plane Function (UPF) 158 may support voice and data bearers forUE 102 and may enable UE 102 voice and data access to other networkssuch as the Internet 175. UPF 158 functions may include: external PDUsession point of interconnect to a Data Network, packet (e.g. InternetProtocol (IP)) routing and forwarding, packet inspection and user planepart of policy rule enforcement, Quality of Service (QoS) handling foruser plane, downlink packet buffering and downlink data notificationtriggering. UPF 158 may be connected to SLP 162 to enable support oflocation of UE 102 using SUPL. SLP 162 may be further connected to oraccessible from external client 130.

It should be understood that while FIG. 1 shows a network architecturefor a non-roaming UE, with suitable, well-known, changes, acorresponding network architecture may be provided for a roaming UE.

As discussed above, during a location session, the location servertypically obtains the positioning capabilities from the UE 102, which isused to determine the type of positioning procedure and positioningmeasurement(s) to use during the location session, and to generate andprovide any necessary assistance data to the UE 102 accordingly. Thesignaling between the location server (e.g., LMF 152 or SLP 162) and theUE 102 during the location session to obtain the positioningcapabilities of the UE 102 increases latency in the location session.The positioning latency may be reduced if the positioning capabilitiesof the UE 102 could be obtained and stored in the core network 150 priorto initiating the location session. The positioning capabilities of theUE 102 could then be obtained for a location session without requiringsignaling between the location server and the UE 102.

Storing the positioning capabilities for the UE 102 in the core network150 may reduce the positioning latency in the range of approximately 50to 100 ms. For some user cases, such as where there are low latencyrequirements (e.g. less than one second) (which may be associated withIIoT UEs or where the external LCS Client is a machine or server), areduction in positioning latency from storing the positioningcapabilities for the UE 102 in the core network 150 may be advantageous,while in other user cases (such as where the external LCS client is aperson), the reduction in positioning latency may be negligible.

Moreover, the positioning capabilities of the UE 102 may not always befixed (also referred to as being static) but may instead vary dependingon the UE implementation, state and configuration by a user. Forexample, a user may be allowed to disable location support fornon-regulatory services (e.g. for a location request from an externalnon-regulatory LCS Client 130). In that case, when a location server(e.g. LMF 152) requests the positioning capabilities of the UE 102, theUE 102 may reply with no positioning capabilities or with some limitedminimal set of capabilities. An exception would be if the UE 102 isaware of an emergency services call when the UE 102 might provide itsfull capability set to a location server.

In another scenario, a Cellular Internet of Things (CIoT) UE whosebattery level is low may switch off positioning support in order toconserve battery power for more important tasks such as communicatingwith an external server. In a third scenario, a user may establishcertain location areas and/or times of day where and/or when the UE 102will support location requests from a non-regulatory LCS Client bysending a minimal or zero set of positioning capabilities to a locationserver. An example of this case would be an employee at a hospital orairport who allows accurate location during working hours but nolocation after hours.

The examples and scenarios above may not be supported on all UEs 102 andmay not always need to be supported, since a home Public Land MobileNetwork (PLMN) can offer a subscription to different levels of privacyand location Quality of Service (QoS) in a home GMLC (HGMLC). However, aUE vendor may still offer users some form of control over UE locationcapability as described above.

Thus, the positioning capabilities of a UE 102 may not be static but mayvary according to user preference or other external conditions likebattery level. A consequence of varying positioning capabilities is thatany positioning capabilities previously stored by the network could bein error at a later time.

Accordingly, in one implementation, the UE 102 may provide itspositioning capabilities to the serving AMF 154 using NAS messaging,e.g. in a NAS Registration Request, prior to entering a locationsession. The AMF 154 stores the positioning capabilities for the UE 102and later provides them to a location server, e.g., the LMF 152, as partof any location request for the UE 102 sent to the location server.

The positioning capabilities may be provided by the UE 102 using adifferent encoding than that used in LPP to provide positioningcapabilities to an LMF 152, e.g., the positioning capabilities may beencoded using a new NAS parameter. However, this may increase both UE102 and LMF 152 impacts to support the new encoding and decoding. Inanother implementation, the UE 102 may provide the positioningcapabilities using existing LPP encoding, e.g., by including an LPPProvide Capabilities message in a NAS message (e.g. included in a newNAS parameter), which may still have a new signaling impact.

The UE 102 may resend its positioning capabilities to the AMF 154whenever there is a change in the positioning capabilities, which may inprinciple support variation of UE 102 positioning capabilities. However,this would result in extra UE 102 and AMF 154 impact. Moreover, theremay also be a privacy concern since sending positioning capabilities toa serving PLMN could effectively tell the serving PLMN when a user haddisabled or reenabled location support in a UE 102. For example, a user(e.g., in a foreign country) may not want a local PLMN operator to beaware of changes in positioning capabilities. Accordingly, in oneimplementation, the UE 102 may provide positioning capabilities to anAMF 154 only when the positioning capabilities are fixed and will notchange. The receipt of the positioning capabilities from the UE 102 in aNAS message, may thus be an implicit indication that the positioningcapabilities are stable (and not variable) and the AMF 154 may store thepositioning capabilities for the UE 102 accordingly.

FIG. 2 shows a signaling flow 200 that illustrates various messages sentbetween components of the communication system 100 depicted in FIG. 1,prior to and during a location session for storing in the core network150 positioning capabilities for the UE 102 provided by the UE 102 in aNAS message. FIG. 2 is provided as a nonlimiting example. For example,FIG. 2 illustrates the use of LMF 152 as the location server, but itshould be understood that other types of location servers may be used,such as SLP 162 (shown in FIG. 1). Moreover, FIG. 2 illustrates the useof 5G network entities, but if desired, other types of networks may beused, such as entities in an LTE network, in which the NG-RAN 112 isreplaced by an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), the AMF 154 is replaced by aMobility Management Entity (MME), and LMF 152 is replaced by an E-SMLC.Additionally, it will be understood that any number of interveningdevices that are not shown may relay signaling and assist in performingfunctions illustrated in FIG. 2. Moreover, additional signaling andprocesses may be present.

At stage 1, the UE 102 sends a NAS message to the AMF 154 that includesthe UE positioning capabilities. The NAS message may be, e.g., a requestfor a NAS procedure, such as a NAS Registration Request, or may provideinformation to the AMF 154. The UE positioning capabilities may beencoded in a NAS parameter or may be provided using existing LPPencoding, e.g., in an LPP Provide Capabilities message in the NASmessage. In one implementation, the UE 102 may include an explicitindication of whether the positioning capabilities of the UE 102 arestable (or non-variable). In another implementation, the UE 102 may sendthe positioning capabilities of the UE 102 to the AMF 154 only if thepositioning capabilities are stable (i.e. are non-variable), and thus,the inclusion of the positioning capabilities in the NAS message is animplicit indication that the positioning capabilities for the UE 102 arestable.

At stage 2, the AMF 154 stores the UE positioning capabilities, e.g. ifthe positioning capabilities are indicated to be, or are implicitly,stable (non-variable).

At stage 3, the AMF 154 receives a location request for the UE 102. Thelocation request, for example, may be received from the UE 102 or from aGMLC 160 (shown in FIG. 1).

At stage 4, the AMF 154 retrieves the UE positioning capabilities forthe UE 102 from storage and sends to the LMF 152 a location request forthe UE 102 that includes the UE positioning capabilities. For example,the AMF 154 may provide the location request and the UE positioningcapabilities to the LMF 152 via an Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocationRequest message.

At stage 5, the LMF 152 may initiate a location session and perform apositioning procedure with the UE 102 based on the UE positioningcapabilities received at stage 4. During this location session, there isno need for the LMF 152 to request or receive the UE positioningcapabilities from the UE 102 itself. The location of the UE 102 may beobtained by the LMF 152 during stage 5 using known positioningtechniques, which may be selected based on the UE positioningcapabilities received at stage 4.

At stage 6, the LMF 152 provides a location response to the AMF 154,which includes the UE location. For example, the LMF 152 may provide thelocation response in an Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Response messageto the AMF 154.

At stage 7, the AMF 154 provides the UE location to the requestingentity, e.g., the UE 102 or the GMLC 160.

In one implementation, the UE 102 may provide its positioningcapabilities to the LMF 152 using LPP during a location session, e.g.,when requested by the LMF 152 as part of positioning the UE 102. The LMF152 then stores the positioning capabilities for the UE 102 and usesthem for any future location sessions with the UE. The AMF 154, forexample, may include a UE identifier in location requests for the UE 102that is associated with the UE positioning capabilities when stored bythe LMF 152 to enable the LMF 152 to identify the UE 102 and retrieveits positioning capabilities in future location requests. The UEidentifier, for example, may be a Subscription Permanent Identifier(SUPI) or Permanent Equipment Identifier (PEI) or some other AMF 154determined identifier so that the SUPI and PEI for the UE 102 may behidden from the LMF 152.

When storing the UE positioning capabilities in the LMF 152, the UEpositioning capabilities may only be useful if the same LMF 152 is usedlater to position the UE 102 and not a different LMF 152. In addition,if the positioning capabilities of the UE 102 change at a later time,the LMF 152 may use incorrect positioning capabilities in subsequentlocation sessions. This last disadvantage may be overcome if the UE 102also includes an indication (e.g., in an LPP Provide Capabilitiesmessage) as to whether its positioning capabilities are stable (i.e. arenon-variable). A UE 102 whose positioning capabilities cannot change,for example, would indicate that its positioning capabilities arestable. Otherwise, the UE 102 may indicate that its positioningcapabilities are not stable. For positioning capabilities that are notstable, the LMF 152, for example, may choose not to store them. Astability indicator may be useful because a very low latency requirementis most typically associated with an IIoT UE or some other autonomous UEwithout a user and accordingly disabling and reenabling of locationshould not occur and the positioning capabilities would be stable. Incontrast, a UE 102 with a user (e.g., a smartphone or tablet) wherelocation might be disabled and reenabled would not normally requireextremely low latency even for an emergency call. Consequently, arestriction of positioning capability storage to UEs whose positioningcapabilities are stable may not be much of a disadvantage to UEs withpositioning capabilities that are not stable.

FIG. 3 shows a signaling flow 300 that illustrates various messages sentbetween components of the communication system 100 depicted in FIG. 1,for storing UE positioning capabilities in the LMF 152. FIG. 3 isprovided as a nonlimiting example. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates theuse of LMF 152 as the location server, but it should be understood thatother types of location servers may be used, such as SLP 162 (shown inFIG. 1). Moreover, FIG. 3 illustrates the use of 5G network entities,but if desired, other types of networks may be used, such as entities inan LTE network, in which the NG-RAN 112 may be replaced by an E-UTRAN,the AMF 154 may be replaced by an MME, and LMF 152 may be replaced by anE-SMLC. Additionally, it will be understood that any number ofintervening devices that are not shown may relay signaling and assist inperforming functions illustrated in FIG. 3. Moreover, additionalsignaling and processes may be present.

At stage 1, the AMF 154 receives a location request for the UE 102. Thelocation request, for example, may be received from the UE 102 or from aGMLC 160 (shown in FIG. 1).

At stage 2, the AMF 154 sends to the LMF 152 a location request for theUE 102 that includes a UE identifier. The UE identifier, for example,may be a SUPI or PEI for the UE 102 or may be another identifier for theUE 102 that is determined by the AMF 154 to hide the SUPI and PEI forthe UE 102 from the LMF 152, e.g., for privacy. The location request andUE identifier may be provided by the AMF 154 to the LMF 152, e.g., viaan Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Request message.

At block 3, which is illustrated with a number of stages, the LMF 152may instigate a location session and perform a positioning procedurewith the UE 102.

At stage 3A, if the UE positioning capabilities were stored by the LMF152 in a previous location session (as discussed further in stage 3G),the LMF 152 may retrieve the stored positioning capabilities for the UE102 based on the UE identifier received from the AMF 154 at stage 2.

At stage 3B, if the UE positioning capabilities for the UE 102 were notpreviously stored by the LMF 152, e.g., the UE positioning capabilitiescould not be located in storage in stage 3A, the LMF 152 may send arequest for positioning capabilities to the UE 102, e.g., via an LPPRequest Capabilities message. If the UE positioning capabilities for theUE 102 were retrieved in stage 3A, the LMF 152 would not send a requestfor positioning capabilities to the UE 102 in subsequent locationsessions.

At stage 3C, and if stage 3B occurs, the UE 102 may provide itspositioning capabilities to the LMF 152, e.g., via an LPP ProvideCapabilities message. The UE 102 provides an indication of the stabilityof its positioning capabilities. For example, the indication ofstability may indicate that the UE positioning capabilities are fixedand will not change, or may indicate that the UE positioningcapabilities are not fixed and may vary. In some implementations, stage3C may occur but not stage 3B—e.g. if the UE 102 sends its positioningcapabilities to the LMF 152 unsolicited before LMF 152 is able toperform stage 3B.

At stage 3D, the LMF 152 and UE 102 exchange various LPP messages, e.g.,to generate and obtain position information, such as positioningmeasurements performed by the UE 102, and/or a position determined bythe UE 102, for positioning of the UE 102.

At stage 3E, the LMF 152 and one or more entities (e.g., gNBs 110) inthe NG-RAN 112 may exchange various NRPPa messages e.g., to generate andobtain position information, such as positioning measurements performedby the gNBs 110, for positioning of the UE 102.

At stage 3F, the LMF 152 may determine the UE 102 location based on theposition information received from the UE 102 and/or the NG-RAN 112 instages 3D and 3E, respectively. The position measurements performed bythe UE 102 in stage 3D and/or the NG-RAN 112 in stage 3E, and thelocation determination of the UE 102 may be determined by the LMF 152using known positioning techniques, which may be selected by the LMF 152based on the UE positioning capabilities obtained at stage 3A or stage3C.

At stage 3G, if the LMF 152 has not previously stored the positioningcapabilities for the UE 102, the LMF 152 stores the positioningcapabilities for the UE 102 and the UE identifier if the UE 102indicated that its positioning capabilities are stable (i.e.non-variable) in the positioning capabilities message received at stage3C. The positioning capabilities for the UE 102 may thus be associatedwith the UE identifier, e.g., the SUPI or PEI, or the AMF generatedidentifier for the UE 102 received at stage 2, and stored by the LMF152. If the UE 102 indicated that its positioning capabilities are notstable (i.e. can be variable), the LMF 152 may not store the UEpositioning capabilities.

At stage 4, the LMF 152 provides a location response to the AMF 154,which includes the UE 102 location determined at stage 3F. For example,the LMF 152 may provide the location response in anNlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Response message to the AMF 154.

At stage 5, the AMF 154 provides the UE location to the requestingentity, e.g., the UE 102 or the GMLC 160.

In another implementation, the UE 102 may provide its positioningcapabilities to the LMF 152 using LPP during a location session, similarto the implementation discussed in FIG. 3, but the LMF 152 returns theUE 102 positioning capabilities to the AMF 154 along with the UE 102location when the UE 102 positioning is complete. The AMF 154 thenstores the positioning capabilities for the UE 102 and provides thepositioning capabilities to the LMF 152 for any new location request forthe UE 102. Thus, for an initial location request, the AMF 154 would notinclude UE positioning capabilities with a location request sent to theLMF 152, but would receive the UE positioning capabilities from the LMF152. The AMF 154 may then include the positioning capabilities in anylater UE 102 location request sent to the LMF 152 or to a different LMF.This implementation can overcome the limitation of restricting UEpositioning capability storage to only one LMF 152.

FIG. 4 shows a signaling flow 400 that illustrates various messages sentbetween components of the communication system 100 depicted in FIG. 1,for storing UE positioning capabilities received during a locationsession in the AMF 154. FIG. 4 is provided as a nonlimiting example. Forexample, FIG. 4 illustrates the use of LMF 152 as the location server,but it should be understood that other types of location servers may beused. Moreover, FIG. 4 illustrates the use of 5G network entities, butif desired, other types of networks may be used, such as entities in anLTE network, in which the NG-RAN 112 may be replaced by an E-UTRAN, theAMF 154 may be replaced by an MME, and LMF 152 may be replaced by anE-SMLC. Additionally, it will be understood that any number ofintervening devices that are not shown may relay signaling and assist inperforming functions illustrated in FIG. 4. Moreover, additionalsignaling and processes may be present.

At stage 1, the AMF 154 receives a location request for the UE 102. Thelocation request, for example, may be received from the UE 102 or from aGMLC 160 (shown in FIG. 1).

At stage 2, if the UE positioning capabilities were previously stored bythe AMF 154 (as discussed further in stage 6), the AMF 154 may retrievethe stored UE positioning capabilities for the UE 102.

At stage 3, the AMF 154 sends to the LMF 152 a location request for theUE 102 that includes the UE positioning capabilities for the UE 102, ifretrieved in stage 2. The location request and UE positioningcapabilities (if included) may be provided by the AMF 154 to the LMF152, e.g., via an Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Request message.

At block 4, which is illustrated with a number of stages, the LMF 152may instigate a location session and perform a positioning procedurewith the UE 102.

At stage 4A, if the UE positioning capabilities for the UE 102 were notprovided in the location request received at stage 3, the LMF 152 maysend a request for positioning capabilities to the UE 102, e.g., via anLPP Request Capabilities message. If the UE positioning capabilities forthe UE 102 were received in stage 3, the LMF 152 would not send arequest for positioning capabilities to the UE 102.

At stage 4B, and if stage 4A is performed, the UE 102 may provide itspositioning capabilities to the LMF 152, e.g., via an LPP ProvideCapabilities message. The UE 102 provides an indication of the stabilityof its positioning capabilities. For example, the indication ofstability may indicate that the UE positioning capabilities are fixedand will not change, or may indicate that the UE positioningcapabilities are not fixed and may vary. In some implementations, stage4B may occur but not stage 4A—e.g. if the UE 102 sends its positioningcapabilities to the LMF 152 unsolicited before LMF 152 is able toperform stage 4A.

At stage 4C, the LMF 152 and UE 102 exchange various LPP messages, e.g.,to generate and obtain position information, such as positioningmeasurements performed by the UE 102, and/or a position determined bythe UE 102, for positioning of the UE 102.

At stage 4D, the LMF 152 and one or more entities (e.g., gNBs 110) inthe NG-RAN 112 may exchange various NRPPa messages e.g., to generate andobtain position information, such as positioning measurements performedby the gNBs 110, for positioning of the UE 102.

At stage 4E, the LMF 152 may determine the UE 102 location based on theposition information received from the UE 102 and/or the NG-RAN 112 instages 4C and 4D, respectively. The position measurements performed bythe UE 102 in stage 4C and/or the NG-RAN 112 in stage 4D, and thelocation determination of the UE 102 may be determined by the LMF 152using known positioning techniques, which may be selected by the LMF 152based on the UE positioning capabilities obtained at stage 3 or stage4B.

At stage 5, the LMF 152 provides a location response to the AMF 154,which includes the UE 102 location determined at stage 4E. For example,the LMF 152 may provide the location response in anNlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Response message to the AMF 154. Thelocation response may include the UE positioning capabilities for the UE102 received at stage 4B if the UE 102 indicated that its positioningcapabilities are stable (i.e. are non-variable). If the UE 102 indicatedthat its positioning capabilities are not stable (i.e. may vary), theLMF 152 may not include the UE positioning capabilities in the locationresponse to the AMF 154.

At stage 6, if the AMF 154 receives the UE positioning capabilities forthe UE 102 from the LMF 152 in the location response in stage 5, the AMF154 stores the positioning capabilities for the UE 102.

At stage 7, the AMF 154 provides the UE location to the requestingentity, e.g., the UE 102 or the GMLC 160.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating certain exemplaryfeatures of a UE 500, e.g., which may be UE 102 shown in FIG. 1, that isconfigured for supporting location of the UE 500 by providingpositioning capabilities for storage in the core network, e.g., asdiscussed herein. The UE 500, for example, may perform the signal flowsshown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 and the process flow shown in FIG. 8 andtechniques disclosed herein. The UE 500 may, for example, include one ormore processors 502, memory 504, an external interface such as at leastone wireless transceivers (e.g., wireless network interface) illustratedas WWAN transceiver 510 and WLAN transceiver 512, SPS receiver 515, andone or more sensors 513, which may be operatively coupled with one ormore connections 506 (e.g., buses, lines, fibers, links, etc.) tonon-transitory computer readable medium 520 and memory 504. The SPSreceiver 515, for example, may receive and process SPS signals from SVs190 shown in FIG. 1. The one or more sensors 513, for example, may be aninertial measurement unit (IMU) that may include one or moreaccelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, a magnetometer, etc. The UE 500may further include additional items, which are not shown, such as auser interface that may include e.g., a display, a keypad or other inputdevice, such as virtual keypad on the display, through which a user mayinterface with the UE. In certain example implementations, all or partof UE 500 may take the form of a chipset, and/or the like.

The at least one wireless transceivers may be a transceiver 510 for aWWAN communication system and a transceiver 512 for a WLAN communicationsystem, or may be a combined a transceiver for both WWAN and WLAN. TheWWAN transceiver 510 may include a transmitter 510 t and receiver 510 rcoupled to one or more antennas 511 for transmitting (e.g., on one ormore uplink channels and/or one or more sidelink channels) and/orreceiving (e.g., on one or more downlink channels and/or one or moresidelink channels) wireless signals and transducing signals from thewireless signals to wired (e.g., electrical and/or optical) signals andfrom wired (e.g., electrical and/or optical) signals to the wirelesssignals. The WLAN transceiver 512 may include a transmitter 512 t andreceiver 512 r coupled to one or more antennas 511 or to separateantennas, for transmitting (e.g., on one or more uplink channels and/orone or more sidelink channels) and/or receiving (e.g., on one or moredownlink channels and/or one or more sidelink channels) wireless signalsand transducing signals from the wireless signals to wired (e.g.,electrical and/or optical) signals and from wired (e.g., electricaland/or optical) signals to the wireless signals. The transmitters 510 tand 512 t may include multiple transmitters that may be discretecomponents or combined/integrated components, and/or the receivers 510 rand 512 r may include multiple receivers that may be discrete componentsor combined/integrated components. The WWAN transceiver 510 may beconfigured to communicate signals (e.g., with base stations and/or oneor more other devices) according to a variety of radio accesstechnologies (RATs) such as 5G New Radio (NR), GSM (Global System forMobiles), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), AMPS(Advanced Mobile Phone System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access),WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE Direct (LTE-D),3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), etc. New Radio may use mm-wave frequencies and/orsub-6 GHz frequencies. The WLAN transceiver 512 may be configured tocommunicate signals (e.g., with access points and/or one or more otherdevices) according to a variety of radio access technologies (RATs) suchas 3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), IEEE 802.11 (including IEEE 802.11p), WiFi, WiFiDirect (WiFi-D), Bluetooth®, Zigbee etc. The transceivers 510 and 512may be communicatively coupled to a transceiver interface, e.g., byoptical and/or electrical connection, which may be at least partiallyintegrated with the transceivers 510 and 512.

In some embodiments, UE 500 may include antenna 511, which may beinternal or external. UE antenna 511 may be used to transmit and/orreceive signals processed by wireless transceivers 510 and 512. In someembodiments, UE antenna 511 may be coupled to wireless transceivers 510and 512. In some embodiments, measurements of signals received(transmitted) by UE 500 may be performed at the point of connection ofthe UE antenna 511 and wireless transceivers 510 and 512. For example,the measurement point of reference for received (transmitted) RF signalmeasurements may be an input (output) terminal of the receiver 510 r(transmitter 510 t) and an output (input) terminal of the UE antenna511. In a UE 500 with multiple UE antennas 511 or antenna arrays, theantenna connector may be viewed as a virtual point representing theaggregate output (input) of multiple UE antennas. In some embodiments,UE 500 may measure received signals including signal strength and TOAmeasurements and the raw measurements may be processed by the one ormore processors 502.

The one or more processors 502 may be implemented using a combination ofhardware, firmware, and software. For example, the one or moreprocessors 502 may be configured to perform the functions discussedherein by implementing one or more instructions or program code 508 on anon-transitory computer readable medium, such as medium 520 and/ormemory 504. In some embodiments, the one or more processors 502 mayrepresent one or more circuits configurable to perform at least aportion of a data signal computing procedure or process related to theoperation of UE 500.

The medium 520 and/or memory 504 may store instructions or program code508 that contain executable code or software instructions that whenexecuted by the one or more processors 502 cause the one or moreprocessors 502 to operate as a special purpose computer programmed toperform the techniques disclosed herein. As illustrated in UE 500, themedium 520 and/or memory 504 may include one or more components ormodules that may be implemented by the one or more processors 502 toperform the methodologies described herein. While the components ormodules are illustrated as software in medium 520 that is executable bythe one or more processors 502, it should be understood that thecomponents or modules may be stored in memory 504 or may be dedicatedhardware either in the one or more processors 502 or off the processors.

A number of software modules and data tables may reside in the medium520 and/or memory 504 and be utilized by the one or more processors 502in order to manage both communications and the functionality describedherein. It should be appreciated that the organization of the contentsof the medium 520 and/or memory 504 as shown in UE 500 is merelyexemplary, and as such the functionality of the modules and/or datastructures may be combined, separated, and/or be structured in differentways depending upon the implementation of the UE 500.

The medium 520 and/or memory 504 may include positioning session module522 that when implemented by the one or more processors 502 configuresthe one or more processors 502 to engage in a positioning session with alocation server through a serving base station, e.g., via the wirelesstransceiver 510, including receiving positioning capabilities requestmessage, receiving a request of location information, such aspositioning measurements, e.g., for a UE-assisted positioning process,or a position estimate, e.g., for a UE based positioning process. Theone or more processors 502 are configured to send a response to thelocation service requests, e.g. by providing positioning capabilitiesand the requested location information. The one or more processors 502may be configured to send, via transceiver 510, a positioningcapabilities response with an indication of the stability of thepositioning capabilities.

The medium 520 and/or memory 504 may include a NAS messaging module 524that when implemented by the one or more processors 502 configures theone or more processors 502 to send, via the transceiver 510, NASmessages to an AMF, and to include the UE positioning capabilitiesencoded in a NAS parameter or encoded in an LPP message. The one or moreprocessors 502 may be configured to include an indication of thestability of the positioning capabilities or to include the positioningcapabilities in a NAS message only if the positioning capabilities arestable.

The medium 520 and/or memory 504 may include a positioning capabilitystability module 526 that when implemented by the one or more processors502 configures the one or more processors 502 to determine when thepositioning capabilities are stable, e.g., fixed and will not change.

The methodologies described herein may be implemented by various meansdepending upon the application. For example, these methodologies may beimplemented in hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof.For a hardware implementation, the one or more processors 502 may beimplemented within one or more application specific integrated circuits(ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processingdevices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmablegate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers,microprocessors, electronic devices, other electronic units designed toperform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof.

For a firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies may beimplemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein. Any machine readable mediumtangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing themethodologies described herein. For example, software codes may bestored in a non-transitory computer readable medium 520 or memory 504that is connected to and executed by the one or more processors 502.Memory may be implemented within the one or more processors or externalto the one or more processors. As used herein the term “memory” refersto any type of long term, short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or othermemory and is not to be limited to any particular type of memory ornumber of memories, or type of media upon which memory is stored.

If implemented in firmware and/or software, the functions may be storedas one or more instructions or program code 508 on a non-transitorycomputer readable medium, such as medium 520 and/or memory 504. Examplesinclude computer readable media encoded with a data structure andcomputer readable media encoded with a computer program code 508. Forexample, the non-transitory computer readable medium including programcode 508 stored thereon may include program code 508 to support locationof the UE by storing UE positioning capabilities in the core network ina manner consistent with disclosed embodiments. Non-transitory computerreadable medium 520 includes physical computer storage media. A storagemedium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer.By way of example, and not limitation, such non-transitory computerreadable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other opticaldisk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code 508in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessedby a computer; disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc(CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppydisk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically,while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of theabove should also be included within the scope of computer readablemedia.

In addition to storage on computer readable medium 520, instructionsand/or data may be provided as signals on transmission media included ina communication apparatus. For example, a communication apparatus mayinclude a wireless transceiver 510 having signals indicative ofinstructions and data. The instructions and data are configured to causeone or more processors to implement the functions outlined in theclaims. That is, the communication apparatus includes transmission mediawith signals indicative of information to perform disclosed functions.

Memory 504 may represent any data storage mechanism. Memory 504 mayinclude, for example, a primary memory and/or a secondary memory.Primary memory may include, for example, a random access memory, readonly memory, etc. While illustrated in this example as being separatefrom one or more processors 502, it should be understood that all orpart of a primary memory may be provided within or otherwiseco-located/coupled with the one or more processors 502. Secondary memorymay include, for example, the same or similar type of memory as primarymemory and/or one or more data storage devices or systems, such as, forexample, a disk drive, an optical disc drive, a tape drive, a solidstate memory drive, etc.

In certain implementations, secondary memory may be operativelyreceptive of, or otherwise configurable to couple to a non-transitorycomputer readable medium 520. As such, in certain exampleimplementations, the methods and/or apparatuses presented herein maytake the form in whole or part of a computer readable medium 520 thatmay include computer implementable program code 508 stored thereon,which if executed by one or more processors 502 may be operativelyenabled to perform all or portions of the example operations asdescribed herein. Computer readable medium 520 may be a part of memory504.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating certain exemplaryfeatures of a location server 600, e.g., LMF 152 or SLP 162, shown inFIG. 1, or an E-SMLC that is configured to support positioning of a UE(e.g. a UE 102) by enabling the storage of UE positioning capabilitiesin a core network, as discussed herein. The location server 600 mayperform the signaling flow show in in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 and the processflow, e.g., shown in FIG. 9 and algorithms disclosed herein. Locationserver 600 may, for example, include one or more processors 602, memory604, an external interface 616 (e.g., wireline or wireless networkinterface to base stations and/or entities in the core network), whichmay be operatively coupled with one or more connections 606 (e.g.,buses, lines, fibers, links, etc.) to non-transitory computer readablemedium 620 and memory 604. In certain example implementations, all orpart of location server 600 may take the form of a chipset, and/or thelike.

The one or more processors 602 may be implemented using a combination ofhardware, firmware, and software. For example, the one or moreprocessors 602 may be configured to perform the functions discussedherein by implementing one or more instructions or program code 608 on anon-transitory computer readable medium, such as medium 620 and/ormemory 604. In some embodiments, the one or more processors 602 mayrepresent one or more circuits configurable to perform at least aportion of a data signal computing procedure or process related to theoperation of location server 600.

The medium 620 and/or memory 604 may store instructions or program code608 that contain executable code or software instructions that whenexecuted by the one or more processors 602 cause the one or moreprocessors 602 to operate as a special purpose computer programmed toperform the techniques disclosed herein. As illustrated in locationserver 600, the medium 620 and/or memory 604 may include one or morecomponents or modules that may be implemented by the one or moreprocessors 602 to perform the methodologies described herein. While thecomponents or modules are illustrated as software in medium 620 that isexecutable by the one or more processors 602, it should be understoodthat the components or modules may be stored in memory 604 or may bededicated hardware either in the one or more processors 602 or off theprocessors.

A number of software modules and data tables may reside in the medium620 and/or memory 604 and be utilized by the one or more processors 602in order to manage both communications and the functionality describedherein. It should be appreciated that the organization of the contentsof the medium 620 and/or memory 604 as shown in location server 600 ismerely exemplary, and as such the functionality of the modules and/ordata structures may be combined, separated, and/or be structured indifferent ways depending upon the implementation of the location server600.

The medium 620 and/or memory 604 may include a positioning sessionmodule 622 that when implemented by the one or more processors 602configures the one or more processors 602 to engage in a positioningsession with a UE through a serving base station and AMF via theexternal interface 616, e.g., as discussed herein, including receivinglocation service requests that include UE positioning capabilities or aUE identifier, and for obtaining UE positioning capabilities, e.g., fromstorage or by sending a request for positioning capabilities to the UE,and sending a request of location information, such as positioningmeasurements, e.g., for a UE-assisted positioning process, or a positionestimate, e.g., for a UE based positioning process. The one or moreprocessors 602 are configured to receive responses to the locationservice requests, e.g. including receiving positioning capabilitiesincluding an indication of the stability of the UE positioningcapabilities and the requested location information from a UE. The oneor more processors 602 may be further configured to determine a positionestimate for the UE based on received positioning measurements, which asRx-Tx, AoA, TOA, RSRP, etc., or other types of measurements, such asusing WiFi or SPS measurements. The one or more processors 602 may beconfigured to send, via the external interface 616 a location responseto the AMF, which may include the determined UE location and, in someimplementations, the UE positioning capabilities, if indicated as beingstable by the UE.

The medium 620 and/or memory 604 may include a positioning capabilitiesstorage module 624 that when implemented by the one or more processors602 configures the one or more processors 602 to enable storage of theUE positioning capabilities in the core network when the UE indicatesthat its positioning capabilities are stable. For example, the one ormore processors 602 may be enabled to store the UE positioningcapabilities in the location server 600, e.g., in memory 604 or anotherstorage medium, when the UE positioning capabilities are indicated asbeing stable. The one or more processors 602 may be configured toassociate the UE positioning capabilities with a UE identifier receivedfrom the AMF in a location request. The one or more processors 602 maybe further configured to retrieve the UE positioning capabilities fromstorage using the UE identifier received from the AMF in a locationrequest. In another example, the one or more processors 602 may beenabled to store the UE positioning capabilities by sending the UEpositioning capabilities to the AMF for storage, when the UE positioningcapabilities are indicated as being stable. For example, the one or moreprocessors 602 may be enabled to send the UE positioning capabilities tothe AMF in a location response.

The methodologies described herein may be implemented by various meansdepending upon the application. For example, these methodologies may beimplemented in hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof.For a hardware implementation, the one or more processors 602 may beimplemented within one or more application specific integrated circuits(ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processingdevices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmablegate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers,microprocessors, electronic devices, other electronic units designed toperform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof.

For a firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies may beimplemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein. Any machine readable mediumtangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing themethodologies described herein. For example, software codes may bestored in a non-transitory computer readable medium 620 or memory 604that is connected to and executed by the one or more processors 602.Memory may be implemented within the one or more processors or externalto the one or more processors. As used herein the term “memory” refersto any type of long term, short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or othermemory and is not to be limited to any particular type of memory ornumber of memories, or type of media upon which memory is stored.

If implemented in firmware and/or software, the functions may be storedas one or more instructions or program code 608 on a non-transitorycomputer readable medium, such as medium 620 and/or memory 604. Examplesinclude computer readable media encoded with a data structure andcomputer readable media encoded with a computer program code 608. Forexample, the non-transitory computer readable medium including programcode 608 stored thereon may include program code 608 to support locationof the UE by enabling storage of the UE positioning capabilities in thecore network in a manner consistent with disclosed embodiments.Non-transitory computer readable medium 620 includes physical computerstorage media. A storage medium may be any available medium that can beaccessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, suchnon-transitory computer readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to storedesired program code 608 in the form of instructions or data structuresand that can be accessed by a computer; disk and disc, as used herein,includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer readable media.

In addition to storage on computer readable medium 620, instructionsand/or data may be provided as signals on transmission media included ina communication apparatus. For example, a communication apparatus mayinclude an external interface 616 having signals indicative ofinstructions and data. The instructions and data are configured to causeone or more processors to implement the functions outlined in theclaims. That is, the communication apparatus includes transmission mediawith signals indicative of information to perform disclosed functions.

Memory 604 may represent any data storage mechanism. Memory 604 mayinclude, for example, a primary memory and/or a secondary memory.Primary memory may include, for example, a random access memory, readonly memory, etc. While illustrated in this example as being separatefrom one or more processors 602, it should be understood that all orpart of a primary memory may be provided within or otherwiseco-located/coupled with the one or more processors 602. Secondary memorymay include, for example, the same or similar type of memory as primarymemory and/or one or more data storage devices or systems, such as, forexample, a disk drive, an optical disc drive, a tape drive, a solidstate memory drive, etc.

In certain implementations, secondary memory may be operativelyreceptive of, or otherwise configurable to couple to a non-transitorycomputer readable medium 620. As such, in certain exampleimplementations, the methods and/or apparatuses presented herein maytake the form in whole or part of a computer readable medium 620 thatmay include computer implementable program code 608 stored thereon,which if executed by one or more processors 602 may be operativelyenabled to perform all or portions of the example operations asdescribed herein. Computer readable medium 620 may be a part of memory604.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating certain exemplaryfeatures of an AMF 700, such as the AMF 154 in FIG. 1, enabled tosupport positioning of a UE (e.g. a UE 102) by enabling the storage ofUE positioning capabilities in the core network, as discussed herein.The AMF 700 may perform the signaling flows shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4and the process flow, e.g., shown in FIG. 10 and techniques disclosedherein. AMF 700 may, for example, include one or more processors 702,memory 704, an external interface 716 (e.g., wireline or wirelessnetwork interface to other NG-RAN entities and entities in the corenetwork such as a GMLC and location server directly or via one or moreintervening entities), which may be operatively coupled with one or moreconnections 706 (e.g., buses, lines, fibers, links, etc.) tonon-transitory computer readable medium 720 and memory 704. The AMF 700may further include additional items, which are not shown, such as auser interface that may include e.g., a display, a keypad or other inputdevice, such as virtual keypad on the display, through which a user mayinterface with the AMF. In certain example implementations, all or partof AMF 700 may take the form of a chipset, and/or the like. It is notedthat the AMF 700 shown in FIG. 7 may in some cases correspond to (e.g.perform the functions of) some other type of core network node such asan MME.

The one or more processors 702 may be implemented using a combination ofhardware, firmware, and software. For example, the one or moreprocessors 702 may be configured to perform the functions discussedherein by implementing one or more instructions or program code 708 on anon-transitory computer readable medium, such as medium 720 and/ormemory 704. In some embodiments, the one or more processors 702 mayrepresent one or more circuits configurable to perform at least aportion of a data signal computing procedure or process related to theoperation of AMF 700.

The medium 720 and/or memory 704 may store instructions or program code708 that contain executable code or software instructions that whenexecuted by the one or more processors 702 cause the one or moreprocessors 702 to operate as a special purpose computer programmed toperform the techniques disclosed herein. As illustrated in AMF 700, themedium 720 and/or memory 704 may include one or more components ormodules that may be implemented by the one or more processors 702 toperform the methodologies described herein. While the components ormodules are illustrated as software in medium 720 that is executable bythe one or more processors 702, it should be understood that thecomponents or modules may be stored in memory 704 or may be dedicatedhardware either in the one or more processors 702 or off the processors.A number of software modules and data tables may reside in the medium720 and/or memory 704 and be utilized by the one or more processors 702in order to manage both communications and the functionality describedherein. It should be appreciated that the organization of the contentsof the medium 720 and/or memory 704 as shown in AMF 700 is merelyexemplary, and as such the functionality of the modules and/or datastructures may be combined, separated, and/or be structured in differentways depending upon the implementation of the AMF 700.

The medium 720 and/or memory 704 may include a NAS messaging module 722that when implemented by the one or more processors 702 configures theone or more processors 702 to receive, via the external interface 716,NAS messages from the UE which may include the UE positioningcapabilities encoded in a NAS parameter or encoded in an LPP message.The NAS message may include an explicit or implicit indication ofwhether the UE positioning capabilities are stable.

The medium 720 and/or memory 704 may include a positioning sessionmodule 724 that when implemented by the one or more processors 702configures the one or more processors 702 to initiate and engage in apositioning session between a LMF and UE through a serving base stationvia the external interface 716, e.g., as discussed herein, includingreceiving a location request for a UE, e.g., from the UE or a GMLC andsending a location request for the UE to the LMF and to receive alocation response from the LMF that includes the location of the UE andto forward the location of the UE to the initiating entity, e.g., the UEor GMLC. The one or more processors 702 may be configured to include aUE identifier in the location request sent to the LMF. The one or moreprocessors 702 may be configured to include UE positioning capabilitiesfor the UE if stored in the AMF 700. The one or more processors 702 toreceive, via the external interface 716, the UE positioning capabilitiesfor the UE in a location response from the LMF.

The medium 720 and/or memory 704 may include a positioning capabilitiesstorage module 726 that when implemented by the one or more processors702 configures the one or more processors 702 to enable storage of theUE positioning capabilities in the core network when the UE indicatesthat its positioning capabilities are stable. For example, the one ormore processors 702 may be enabled to store the UE positioningcapabilities in the AMF 700, e.g., in memory 704 or another storagemedium, when there is a NAS message with an explicit or implicitindication that the UE positioning capabilities are stable. The one ormore processors 702 may be enabled to store the UE positioningcapabilities in the AMF 700, e.g., in memory 704 or another storagemedium, when the UE positioning capabilities are received from the LMFin a location response message. The one or more processors 702 may befurther configured to retrieve the UE positioning capabilities fromstorage and including the UE positioning capabilities in a locationrequest sent to the LMF.

The medium 720 and/or memory 704 may include a UE identifier module 728that when implemented by the one or more processors 702 configures theone or more processors 702 to generate an identifier for the UE and toinclude the UE identifier in a location request sent to the LMF, via theexternal interface 716. The UE identifier, for example, may be a SUPI orPEI for the UE or may be generated by the AMF 700 to hide the SUPI andPEI for the UE from the location server, e.g., for privacyconsiderations.

The methodologies described herein may be implemented by various meansdepending upon the application. For example, these methodologies may beimplemented in hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof.For a hardware implementation, the one or more processors 702 may beimplemented within one or more application specific integrated circuits(ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processingdevices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmablegate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers,microprocessors, electronic devices, other electronic units designed toperform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof.

For a firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies may beimplemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein. Any machine readable mediumtangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing themethodologies described herein. For example, software codes may bestored in a non-transitory computer readable medium 720 or memory 704that is connected to and executed by the one or more processors 702.Memory may be implemented within the one or more processors or externalto the one or more processors. As used herein the term “memory” refersto any type of long term, short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or othermemory and is not to be limited to any particular type of memory ornumber of memories, or type of media upon which memory is stored.

If implemented in firmware and/or software, the functions may be storedas one or more instructions or program code 708 on a non-transitorycomputer readable medium, such as medium 720 and/or memory 704. Examplesinclude computer readable media encoded with a data structure andcomputer readable media encoded with a computer program code 708. Forexample, the non-transitory computer readable medium including programcode 708 stored thereon may include program code 708 to support locationof the UE by enabling storage of the UE positioning capabilities in thecore network in a manner consistent with disclosed embodiments.Non-transitory computer readable medium 720 includes physical computerstorage media. A storage medium may be any available medium that can beaccessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, suchnon-transitory computer readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to storedesired program code 708 in the form of instructions or data structuresand that can be accessed by a computer; disk and disc, as used herein,includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer readable media.

In addition to storage on computer readable medium 720, instructionsand/or data may be provided as signals on transmission media included ina communication apparatus. For example, a communication apparatus mayinclude an external interface 716 having signals indicative ofinstructions and data. The instructions and data are configured to causeone or more processors to implement the functions outlined in theclaims. That is, the communication apparatus includes transmission mediawith signals indicative of information to perform disclosed functions.

Memory 704 may represent any data storage mechanism. Memory 704 mayinclude, for example, a primary memory and/or a secondary memory.Primary memory may include, for example, a random access memory, readonly memory, etc. While illustrated in this example as being separatefrom one or more processors 702, it should be understood that all orpart of a primary memory may be provided within or otherwiseco-located/coupled with the one or more processors 702. Secondary memorymay include, for example, the same or similar type of memory as primarymemory and/or one or more data storage devices or systems, such as, forexample, a disk drive, an optical disc drive, a tape drive, a solidstate memory drive, etc.

In certain implementations, secondary memory may be operativelyreceptive of, or otherwise configurable to couple to a non-transitorycomputer readable medium 720. As such, in certain exampleimplementations, the methods and/or apparatuses presented herein maytake the form in whole or part of a computer readable medium 720 thatmay include computer implementable program code 708 stored thereon,which if executed by one or more processors 702 may be operativelyenabled to perform all or portions of the example operations asdescribed herein. Computer readable medium 720 may be a part of memory704.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart for an exemplary method 800 for supportingpositioning of a User Equipment (UE) in wireless network, performed bythe UE, such as the UE 102 shown in FIG. 1, in a manner consistent withdisclosed implementations.

At block 802, the UE receives a request for positioning capabilitiesmessage from a location server in a core network for the wirelessnetwork, e.g., as illustrated in stage 3B of FIG. 3 and stage 4A of FIG.4. A means for receiving a request for positioning capabilities messagefrom a location server in a core network for the wireless network mayinclude, e.g., the wireless transceiver 510 and one or more processors502 with dedicated hardware or implementing executable code or softwareinstructions in memory 504 and/or medium 520 in UE 500, such as thepositioning session module 522, shown in FIG. 5.

At block 804, the UE sends a provide positioning capabilities message tothe location server, the provide positioning capabilities messagecomprising positioning capabilities of the UE and an indication as towhether the positioning capabilities of the UE are stable or arevariable, wherein the positioning capabilities of the UE are stored inthe core network when the indication indicates that the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable, e.g., as illustrated in stages 3C and3G of FIG. 3 and stages 4B and 6 of FIG. 4. A means for sending aprovide positioning capabilities message to the location server, theprovide positioning capabilities message comprising positioningcapabilities of the UE and an indication as to whether the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable or are variable, wherein thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stored in the core network whenthe indication indicates that the positioning capabilities of the UE arestable may include, e.g., the wireless transceiver 510 and one or moreprocessors 502 with dedicated hardware or implementing executable codeor software instructions in memory 504 and/or medium 520 in UE 500, suchas the positioning session module 522 and positioning capabilitystability module 526, shown in FIG. 5.

In some implementations, the indication as to whether the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable or are variable identifies whether thepositioning capabilities of the UE will be valid (i.e. fixed) over timeor may change over time.

In some implementations, the positioning capabilities of the UE may bestored in the location server. In some implementations, the positioningcapabilities of the UE may be stored in a second entity in the corenetwork. For example, the location server may be a Location ManagementFunction (e.g. an LMF 152) and the second entity may be an Access andMobility Management Function (e.g. an AMF 154). The UE may be, e.g., anIndustrial Internet of Things (IIoT) UE with fixed positioningcapabilities and the indication indicates that the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable.

In some implementations, the request for positioning capabilitiesmessage is a positioning message for a first location session, whereinthe indication indicates that the positioning capabilities of the UE arestable. The UE may then further receive positioning messages for asecond location session that is subsequent to the first locationsession, wherein the positioning messages for the second locationsession do not include a request for positioning capabilities message,e.g., as discussed in stage 3B of FIG. 3 and stage 4A of FIG. 4. Thesecond location session, for example, may include the location server.The second location session, for example, may include a second locationserver different to the location server. A means for receivingpositioning messages for a second location session that is subsequent tothe first location session, wherein the positioning messages for thesecond location session do not include a request for positioningcapabilities message may include, e.g., the wireless transceiver 510 andone or more processors 502 with dedicated hardware or implementingexecutable code or software instructions in memory 504 and/or medium 520in UE 500, such as the positioning session module 522 and positioningcapability stability module 526, shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart for an exemplary method 900 for supportingpositioning of a User Equipment (e.g. a UE 102) in a wireless networkperformed by a location server, such as LMF 152 shown in FIG. 1, in amanner consistent with disclosed implementations.

At block 902, the location server may receive positioning capabilitiesfor the UE in a first location session, where the positioningcapabilities for the UE are received from the UE in response to arequest for positioning capabilities sent to the UE or are receivedunsolicited from the UE, and where the positioning capabilities includean indication of whether the positioning capabilities are stable or arevariable, e.g., as illustrated in stage 3C of FIG. 3 and stage 4B ofFIG. 4. A means for receiving positioning capabilities for the UE in afirst location session, the positioning capabilities for the UE receivedfrom the UE in response to a request for positioning capabilities sentto the UE or received unsolicited from the UE, the positioningcapabilities including an indication of whether the positioningcapabilities are stable or are variable may include, e.g., the externalinterface 616 and one or more processors 602 with dedicated hardware orimplementing executable code or software instructions in memory 604and/or medium 620 in location server 600, such as the positioningsession module 622, shown in FIG. 6.

At block 904, the location server enables storage of the positioningcapabilities for the UE in the core network if the indication indicatesthat the positioning capabilities are stable, e.g., as illustrated instage 3G of FIG. 3 or stages 5 and 6 of FIG. 4. A means for enablingstorage of the positioning capabilities for the UE in the core networkif the indication indicates that the positioning capabilities are stablemay include, e.g., the external interface 616 and one or more processors602 with dedicated hardware or implementing executable code or softwareinstructions in memory 604 and/or medium 620 in location server 600,such as the positioning session module 622 and the positioningcapabilities storage module 624, shown in FIG. 6.

In some implementations, the indication of whether the positioningcapabilities are stable or are variable identifies whether thepositioning capabilities will be valid (i.e. fixed) over time or maychange over time.

In one implementation, the location server may further perform a secondlocation session with the UE that is subsequent to the first locationsession, e.g., as discussed in stage 3A of FIG. 3 and stage 2 of FIG. 4.A means for performing a second location session with the UE that issubsequent to the first location session may include, e.g., the externalinterface 616 and one or more processors 602 with dedicated hardware orimplementing executable code or software instructions in memory 604and/or medium 620 in location server 600, such as the positioningsession module 622, shown in FIG. 6. The location server may obtain thepositioning capabilities for the UE stored in the core network to enablethe performing of the second location session, e.g., as discussed atstage 3A of FIG. 3 or stage 3 of FIG. 4. A means for obtaining thepositioning capabilities for the UE stored in the core network to enablethe performing of the second location session may include, e.g., theexternal interface 616 and one or more processors 602 with dedicatedhardware or implementing executable code or software instructions inmemory 604 and/or medium 620 in location server 600, such as thepositioning session module 622, shown in FIG. 6. The enabling storage ofthe positioning capabilities for the UE in the core network, forexample, may comprise storing the positioning capabilities in thelocation server, e.g., as discussed at stage 3G of FIG. 3. The locationserver may then further receive a first location request for the UE forthe first location session from a second entity in the core network,where the first location request comprises a UE identification, e.g., asdiscussed at stage 2 of FIG. 3. A means for receiving a first locationrequest for the UE for the first location session from a second entityin the core network, wherein the first location request comprises a UEidentification (or a UE identifier) may include, e.g., the externalinterface 616 and one or more processors 602 with dedicated hardware orimplementing executable code or software instructions in memory 604and/or medium 620 in location server 600, such as the positioningsession module 622, shown in FIG. 6. The location server may then storethe UE identification in association with the positioning capabilitiesin the location server, e.g., as discussed at stage 3G of FIG. 3. Forexample, the location server may store both the positioning capabilitiesand the UE identification. A means for storing the UE identification inassociation with the positioning capabilities in the location server mayinclude, e.g., the one or more processors 602 with dedicated hardware orimplementing executable code or software instructions in memory 604and/or medium 620 in location server 600, such as the positioningcapabilities storage module 624, shown in FIG. 6. The location servermay then receive a second location request for the UE for the secondlocation session from the second entity, where the second locationrequest comprises the UE identification, and where obtaining thepositioning capabilities for the UE stored in the core network is basedon the UE identification, e.g., as discussed at stages 2 and 3A of FIG.3. A means for receiving a second location request for the UE for thesecond location session from the second entity, wherein the secondlocation request comprises the UE identification, and wherein obtainingthe positioning capabilities for the UE stored in the core network isbased on the UE identification may include, e.g., the external interface616 and one or more processors 602 with dedicated hardware orimplementing executable code or software instructions in memory 604and/or medium 620 in location server 600, such as the positioningsession module 622 and the positioning capabilities storage module 624,shown in FIG. 6. The location server, for example, may be a LocationManagement Function (e.g. an LMF 152) and the second entity may be anAccess and Mobility Management Function (e.g. an AMF 154).

In one implementation, enabling storage of the positioning capabilitiesfor the UE in the core network, for example, comprises sending thepositioning capabilities to a second entity in the core network forstorage in the second entity, e.g., as discussed at stage 5 of FIG. 4.The location server may further send a location response for the firstlocation session to the second entity, where the positioningcapabilities are included in the location response, e.g., as discussedat stage 5 of FIG. 4. A means for sending a location response for thefirst location session to the second entity, wherein the positioningcapabilities are included in the location response may include, e.g.,the external interface 616 and one or more processors 602 with dedicatedhardware or implementing executable code or software instructions inmemory 604 and/or medium 620 in location server 600, such as thepositioning session module 622 and the positioning capabilities storagemodule 624, shown in FIG. 6. The location server may obtain thepositioning capabilities for the UE stored in the core network byreceiving a location request for the second location session from thesecond entity, where the location request includes the positioningcapabilities for the UE stored in the second entity, e.g., as discussedat stage 3 of FIG. 4. A means for receiving a location request for thesecond location session from the second entity, wherein the locationrequest includes the positioning capabilities for the UE stored in thesecond entity may include, e.g., the external interface 616 and one ormore processors 602 with dedicated hardware or implementing executablecode or software instructions in memory 604 and/or medium 620 inlocation server 600, such as the positioning session module 622, shownin FIG. 6. The location server, for example, may be a LocationManagement Function (e.g. an LMF 152) and the second entity may be anAccess and Mobility Management Function (e.g. an AMF 154).

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart for an exemplary method 1000 for supportingpositioning of a User Equipment (e.g. a UE 102) in a wireless networkperformed by a first entity in a core network of the wireless network,such as AMF 154 shown in FIG. 1, in a manner consistent with disclosedimplementations.

At block 1002, the first entity may store positioning capabilities forthe UE when the UE indicates that the positioning capabilities arestable (e.g. are not variable), e.g., as discussed in stage 2 of FIG. 2and stage 6 of FIG. 4. A means for storing positioning capabilities forthe UE when the UE indicates that the positioning capabilities arestable may include, e.g., the external interface 716 and one or moreprocessors 702 with dedicated hardware or implementing executable codeor software instructions in memory 704 and/or medium 720 in AMF 700,such as the positioning capabilities storage module 726, shown in FIG.7.

At block 1004, the first entity may send a location request to alocation server where the location request includes the storedpositioning capabilities for the UE, e.g., as discussed at stage 4 ofFIG. 2 and stage 3 of FIG. 4. The first entity, for example, may be anAccess and Mobility Management Function (e.g. an AMF 154) and thelocation server may be a Location Management Function (e.g. an LMF 152).A means for sending a location request to a location server wherein thelocation request includes the stored positioning capabilities for the UEmay include, e.g., the external interface 716 and one or more processors702 with dedicated hardware or implementing executable code or softwareinstructions in memory 704 and/or medium 720 in AMF 700, such as thepositioning session module 724, shown in FIG. 7.

In one implementation, the first entity may receive a Non-Access Stratum(NAS) message from the UE, where the NAS message includes thepositioning capabilities for the UE and an indication of whether thepositioning capabilities are stable or are variable, e.g., as discussedat stage 1 of FIG. 2. A means for receiving a Non-Access Stratum (NAS)message from the UE, the NAS message including the positioningcapabilities for the UE and an indication of whether the positioningcapabilities are stable may include, e.g., the external interface 716and one or more processors 702 with dedicated hardware or implementingexecutable code or software instructions in memory 704 and/or medium 720in AMF 700, such as the NAS messaging module 722, shown in FIG. 7. Thepositioning capabilities in the NAS message may be included in a LongTerm Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) Provide Capabilitiesmessage, e.g. included as a parameter in the NAS message.

In one implementation, the first entity may receive the positioningcapabilities for the UE for storage from a second entity in the corenetwork in response to the second entity receiving from the UE thepositioning capabilities for the UE and an indication that thepositioning capabilities are stable (e.g. are not variable), e.g., asdiscussed in stages 4B and 5 of FIG. 4. A means for receiving thepositioning capabilities for the UE for storage from a second entity inthe core network in response to the second entity receiving from the UEthe positioning capabilities for the UE and an indication that thepositioning capabilities are stable may include, e.g., the externalinterface 716 and one or more processors 702 with dedicated hardware orimplementing executable code or software instructions in memory 704and/or medium 720 in AMF 700, such as the positioning session module724, shown in FIG. 7. The positioning capabilities may be received in alocation response sent by the second entity for a first locationsession, and the location request sent to the location server may be fora second location session that is subsequent to the first locationsession, e.g., as discussed in stages 3 and 5 of FIG. 4. The secondentity, for example, may be the location server. The second entity, forexample, may be a second location server that is different than thelocation server.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart for an exemplary method 1100 for supportingpositioning of a User Equipment (e.g. a UE 102) in a wireless networkperformed by a first entity in a core network of the wireless network,such as AMF 154 shown in FIG. 1, in a manner consistent with disclosedimplementations.

At block 1102, the first entity receives a location request for the UE,as illustrated at stage 1 of FIG. 3. A means for receiving a locationrequest for the UE may include, e.g., the external interface 716 and oneor more processors 702 with dedicated hardware or implementingexecutable code or software instructions in memory 704 and/or medium 720in AMF 700, such as the positioning session module 724, shown in FIG. 7.

At block 1104, the first entity sends a location request message to alocation server, where the location request message comprises anidentification (e.g. an identifier) for the UE, and where positioningcapabilities for the UE and the identification for the UE are stored bythe location server when there is an indication from the UE that thepositioning capabilities for the UE are stable (e.g. are not variable),e.g., as discussed at stages 2, 3A and 3G of FIG. 3. The identificationfor the UE, for example, may be a Subscription Permanent Identifier(SUPI) or a Permanent Equipment Identifier (PEI) for the UE. Theidentification for the UE, for example, may be an identifier generatedby the first entity. A means for sending a location request message to alocation server, wherein the location request message comprises anidentification for the UE, wherein positioning capabilities for the UEand the identification for the UE are stored by the location server whenthere is an indication from the UE that the positioning capabilities forthe UE are stable may include, e.g., the external interface 716 and oneor more processors 702 with dedicated hardware or implementingexecutable code or software instructions in memory 704 and/or medium 720in AMF 700, such as the positioning session module 724 and UE identifiermodule 728, shown in FIG. 7. The first entity, for example, may be anAccess and Mobility Management Function (e.g. an AMF 154) and thelocation server may be a Location Management Function (e.g. an LMF 152).

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that information and signalsmay be represented using any of a variety of different technologies andtechniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information,signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout theabove description may be represented by voltages, currents,electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields orparticles, or any combination thereof.

Further, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the variousillustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm stepsdescribed in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may beimplemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinationsof both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware andsoftware, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits,and steps have been described above generally in terms of theirfunctionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware orsoftware depends upon the particular application and design constraintsimposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement thedescribed functionality in varying ways for each particular application,but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the present disclosure.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented orperformed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor(DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The methods, sequences and/or algorithms described in connection withthe aspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in asoftware module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two.A software module may reside in random access memory (RAM), flashmemory, read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, aremovable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known inthe art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor suchthat the processor can read information from, and write information to,the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may beintegral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium mayreside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal (e.g., UE). Inthe alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside asdiscrete components in a user terminal.

In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on ortransmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computerstorage media and communication media including any medium thatfacilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Astorage media may be any available media that can be accessed by acomputer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readablemedia can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or anyother medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code inthe form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed bya computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readablemedium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website,server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable,twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologiessuch as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiberoptic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such asinfrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium.Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc,optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray discwhere disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproducedata optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also beincluded within the scope of computer-readable media.

In view of this description embodiments may include differentcombinations of features. Implementation examples are described in thefollowing numbered clauses:

Clause 1. A method performed by a User Equipment (UE) for supportingpositioning of the UE in a wireless network, comprising: receiving arequest for positioning capabilities message from a location server in acore network for the wireless network; and sending a provide positioningcapabilities message to the location server, the provide positioningcapabilities message comprising positioning capabilities of the UE andan indication as to whether the positioning capabilities of the UE arestable or are variable, wherein the positioning capabilities of the UEare stored in the core network when the indication indicates that thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stable.

Clause 2. The method of clause 1, wherein the indication as to whetherthe positioning capabilities of the UE are stable or are variableidentifies whether the positioning capabilities of the UE will be validover time or may change over time.

Clause 3. The method of clause 1, wherein the positioning capabilitiesof the UE are stored in the location server.

Clause 4. The method of clause 1, wherein the positioning capabilitiesof the UE are stored in a second entity in the core network.

Clause 5. The method of clause 4, wherein the location server is aLocation Management Function (LMF) and the second entity is an Accessand Mobility Management Function (AMF).

Clause 6. The method of any of clauses 1-5, wherein the UE is anIndustrial Internet of Things (IIoT) UE with fixed positioningcapabilities and the indication indicates that the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable.

Clause 7. The method of any of clauses 1-6, wherein the request forpositioning capabilities message is a positioning message for a firstlocation session, wherein the indication indicates that the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable, the method further comprising:receiving positioning messages for a second location session that issubsequent to the first location session, wherein the positioningmessages for the second location session do not include a request forpositioning capabilities message.

Clause 8. The method of clause 7, wherein the second location sessionincludes the location server.

Clause 9. The method of clause 7, wherein the second location sessionincludes a second location server different to the location server.

Clause 10. A User Equipment (UE) configured for supporting positioningof the UE in a wireless network, comprising: a wireless transceiverconfigured to wirelessly communicate with entities in the wirelessnetwork; at least one memory; at least one processor coupled to thewireless transceiver and the at least one memory, wherein the at leastone processor is configured to: receive, via the wireless transceiver, arequest for positioning capabilities message from a location server in acore network for the wireless network; and send, via the wirelesstransceiver, a provide positioning capabilities message to the locationserver, the provide positioning capabilities message comprisingpositioning capabilities of the UE and an indication as to whether thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stable or are variable, whereinthe positioning capabilities of the UE are stored in the core networkwhen the indication indicates that the positioning capabilities of theUE are stable.

Clause 11. The UE of clause 10, wherein the indication as to whether thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stable or are variable identifieswhether the positioning capabilities of the UE will be valid over timeor may change over time.

Clause 12. The UE of clause 10, wherein the positioning capabilities ofthe UE are stored in the location server.

Clause 13. The UE of clause 10, wherein the positioning capabilities ofthe UE are stored in a second entity in the core network.

Clause 14. The UE of clause 13, wherein the location server is aLocation Management Function (LMF) and the second entity is an Accessand Mobility Management Function (AMF).

Clause 15. The UE of any of clauses 10-14, wherein the UE is anIndustrial Internet of Things (IIoT) UE with fixed positioningcapabilities and the indication indicates that the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable.

Clause 16. The UE of any of clauses 10-15, wherein the request forpositioning capabilities message is a positioning message for a firstlocation session, wherein the indication indicates that the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable, the at least one processor is furtherconfigured to: receive positioning messages for a second locationsession that is subsequent to the first location session, wherein thepositioning messages for the second location session do not include arequest for positioning capabilities message.

Clause 17. The UE of clause 16, wherein the second location sessionincludes the location server.

Clause 18. The UE of clause 16, wherein the second location sessionincludes a second location server different to the location server.

Clause 19. A User Equipment (UE) configured for supporting positioningof the UE in a wireless network, comprising: means for receiving arequest for positioning capabilities message from a location server in acore network for the wireless network; and means for sending a providepositioning capabilities message to the location server, the providepositioning capabilities message comprising positioning capabilities ofthe UE and an indication as to whether the positioning capabilities ofthe UE are stable or are variable, wherein the positioning capabilitiesof the UE are stored in the core network when the indication indicatesthat the positioning capabilities of the UE are stable.

Clause 20. The UE of clause 19, wherein the indication as to whether thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stable or are variable identifieswhether the positioning capabilities of the UE will be valid over timeor may change over time.

Clause 21. The UE of clause 19, wherein the positioning capabilities ofthe UE are stored in the location server.

Clause 22. The UE of clause 19, wherein the positioning capabilities ofthe UE are stored in a second entity in the core network.

Clause 23. The UE of clause 22, wherein the location server is aLocation Management Function (LMF) and the second entity is an Accessand Mobility Management Function (AMF).

Clause 24. The UE of any of clauses 19-23, wherein the UE is anIndustrial Internet of Things (IIoT) UE with fixed positioningcapabilities and the indication indicates that the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable.

Clause 25. The UE of any of clauses 19-24, wherein the request forpositioning capabilities message is a positioning message for a firstlocation session, wherein the indication indicates that the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable, further comprising: means forreceiving positioning messages for a second location session that issubsequent to the first location session, wherein the positioningmessages for the second location session do not include a request forpositioning capabilities message.

Clause 26. The UE of clause 25, wherein the second location sessionincludes the location server.

Clause 27. The UE of clause 25, wherein the second location sessionincludes a second location server different to the location server.

Clause 28. A non-transitory storage medium including program code storedthereon, the program code is operable to configure at least oneprocessor in a User Equipment (UE) for supporting positioning of the UEin a wireless network, the program code comprising instructions to:receive a request for positioning capabilities message from a locationserver in a core network for the wireless network; and send a providepositioning capabilities message to the location server, the providepositioning capabilities message comprising positioning capabilities ofthe UE and an indication as to whether the positioning capabilities ofthe UE are stable or are variable, wherein the positioning capabilitiesof the UE are stored in the core network when the indication indicatesthat the positioning capabilities of the UE are stable.

Clause 29. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 28, wherein theindication as to whether the positioning capabilities of the UE arestable or are variable identifies whether the positioning capabilitiesof the UE will be valid over time or may change over time.

Clause 30. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 28, wherein thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stored in the location server.

Clause 31. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 28, wherein thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stored in a second entity in thecore network.

Clause 32. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 31, wherein thelocation server is a Location Management Function (LMF) and the secondentity is an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF).

Clause 33. The non-transitory storage medium of any of clauses 28-32,wherein the UE is an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) UE with fixedpositioning capabilities and the indication indicates that thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stable.

Clause 34. The non-transitory storage medium of any of clauses 28-33,wherein the request for positioning capabilities message is apositioning message for a first location session, wherein the indicationindicates that the positioning capabilities of the UE are stable, theprogram code further comprising instructions to: receive positioningmessages for a second location session that is subsequent to the firstlocation session, wherein the positioning messages for the secondlocation session do not include a request for positioning capabilitiesmessage.

Clause 35. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 34, wherein thesecond location session includes the location server.

Clause 36. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 34, wherein thesecond location session includes a second location server different tothe location server.

Clause 37. A method performed by a location server in a core network fora wireless network for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE)in the wireless network, comprising: receiving positioning capabilitiesfor the UE in a first location session, the positioning capabilities forthe UE received from the UE in response to a request for positioningcapabilities sent to the UE or received unsolicited from the UE, thepositioning capabilities including an indication of whether thepositioning capabilities are stable or are variable; and enablingstorage of the positioning capabilities for the UE in the core networkif the indication indicates that the positioning capabilities arestable.

Clause 38. The method of clause 37, wherein the indication of whetherthe positioning capabilities are stable or are variable identifieswhether the positioning capabilities will be valid over time or maychange over time.

Clause 39. The method of clause 37, further comprising: performing asecond location session with the UE that is subsequent to the firstlocation session; and obtaining the positioning capabilities for the UEstored in the core network to enable the performing of the secondlocation session.

Clause 40. The method of clause 39, wherein enabling storage of thepositioning capabilities for the UE in the core network comprisesstoring the positioning capabilities in the location server.

Clause 41. The method of clause 40, further comprising: receiving afirst location request for the UE for the first location session from asecond entity in the core network, wherein the first location requestcomprises a UE identification; storing the UE identification inassociation with the positioning capabilities in the location server;and receiving a second location request for the UE for the secondlocation session from the second entity, wherein the second locationrequest comprises the UE identification, and wherein obtaining thepositioning capabilities for the UE stored in the core network is basedon the UE identification.

Clause 42. The method of clause 41, wherein the location server is aLocation Management Function (LMF) and the second entity is an Accessand Mobility Management Function (AMF).

Clause 43. The method of clause 39, wherein enabling storage of thepositioning capabilities for the UE in the core network comprisessending the positioning capabilities to a second entity in the corenetwork for storage in the second entity.

Clause 44. The method of clause 43, further comprising sending alocation response for the first location session to the second entity,wherein the positioning capabilities are included in the locationresponse.

Clause 45. The method of clause 44, wherein obtaining the positioningcapabilities for the UE stored in the core network comprises: receivinga location request for the second location session from the secondentity, wherein the location request includes the positioningcapabilities for the UE stored in the second entity.

Clause 46. The method of clause 43, wherein the location server is aLocation Management Function (LMF) and the second entity is an Accessand Mobility Management Function (AMF).

Clause 47. A location server in a core network for a wireless networkconfigured for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) in thewireless network, comprising: an external interface configured towirelessly communicate with entities in the wireless network; at leastone memory; at least one processor coupled to the external interface andthe at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor isconfigured to: receive, via the external interface, positioningcapabilities for the UE in a first location session, the positioningcapabilities for the UE received from the UE in response to a requestfor positioning capabilities sent to the UE or received unsolicited fromthe UE, the positioning capabilities including an indication of whetherthe positioning capabilities are stable or are variable; and enablestorage of the positioning capabilities for the UE in the core networkif the indication indicates that the positioning capabilities arestable.

Clause 48. The location server of clause 47, wherein the indication ofwhether the positioning capabilities are stable or are variableidentifies whether the positioning capabilities will be valid over timeor may change over time.

Clause 49. The location server of clause 47, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to: perform a second location sessionwith the UE that is subsequent to the first location session; and obtainthe positioning capabilities for the UE stored in the core network toenable the performing of the second location session.

Clause 50. The location server of clause 49, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to enable storage of the positioningcapabilities for the UE in the core network by being configured to storethe positioning capabilities in the location server.

Clause 51. The location server of clause 50, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to: receive, via the external interface,a first location request for the UE for the first location session froma second entity in the core network, wherein the first location requestcomprises a UE identification; store the UE identification inassociation with the positioning capabilities in the location server;and receive, via the external interface, a second location request forthe UE for the second location session from the second entity, whereinthe second location request comprises the UE identification, and whereinobtaining the positioning capabilities for the UE stored in the corenetwork is based on the UE identification.

Clause 52. The location server of clause 51, wherein the location serveris a Location Management Function (LMF) and the second entity is anAccess and Mobility Management Function (AMF).

Clause 53. The location server of clause 49, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to enable storage of the positioningcapabilities for the UE in the core network by being configured to send,via the external interface, the positioning capabilities to a secondentity in the core network for storage in the second entity.

Clause 54. The location server of clause 53, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to send, via the external interface, a locationresponse for the first location session to the second entity, whereinthe positioning capabilities are included in the location response.

Clause 55. The location server of clause 54, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to obtain the positioning capabilities for theUE stored in the core network by being configured to: receive, via theexternal interface, a location request for the second location sessionfrom the second entity, wherein the location request includes thepositioning capabilities for the UE stored in the second entity.

Clause 56. The location server of clause 53, wherein the location serveris a Location Management Function (LMF) and the second entity is anAccess and Mobility Management Function (AMF).

Clause 57. A location server in a core network for a wireless networkconfigured for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) in thewireless network, comprising: means for receiving positioningcapabilities for the UE in a first location session, the positioningcapabilities for the UE received from the UE in response to a requestfor positioning capabilities sent to the UE or received unsolicited fromthe UE, the positioning capabilities including an indication of whetherthe positioning capabilities are stable or are variable; and means forenabling storage of the positioning capabilities for the UE in the corenetwork if the indication indicates that the positioning capabilitiesare stable.

Clause 58. The location server of clause 57, wherein the indication ofwhether the positioning capabilities are stable or are variableidentifies whether the positioning capabilities will be valid over timeor may change over time.

Clause 59. The location server of clause 57, further comprising: meansfor performing a second location session with the UE that is subsequentto the first location session; and means for obtaining the positioningcapabilities for the UE stored in the core network to enable theperforming of the second location session.

Clause 60. The location server of clause 59, wherein the means forenabling storage of the positioning capabilities for the UE in the corenetwork stores the positioning capabilities in the location server.

Clause 61. The location server of clause 60, further comprising: meansfor receiving a first location request for the UE for the first locationsession from a second entity in the core network, wherein the firstlocation request comprises a UE identification; means for storing the UEidentification in association with the positioning capabilities in thelocation server; and means for receiving a second location request forthe UE for the second location session from the second entity, whereinthe second location request comprises the UE identification, and whereinthe means for obtaining the positioning capabilities for the UE storedin the core network uses the UE identification.

Clause 62. The location server of clause 61, wherein the location serveris a Location Management Function (LMF) and the second entity is anAccess and Mobility Management Function (AMF).

Clause 63. The location server of clause 59, wherein the means forenabling storage of the positioning capabilities for the UE in the corenetwork sends the positioning capabilities to a second entity in thecore network for storage in the second entity.

Clause 64. The location server of clause 63, further comprising meansfor sending a location response for the first location session to thesecond entity, wherein the positioning capabilities are included in thelocation response.

Clause 65. The location server of clause 64, wherein the means forobtaining the positioning capabilities for the UE stored in the corenetwork comprises: means for receiving a location request for the secondlocation session from the second entity, wherein the location requestincludes the positioning capabilities for the UE stored in the secondentity.

Clause 66. The location server of clause 63, wherein the location serveris a Location Management Function (LMF) and the second entity is anAccess and Mobility Management Function (AMF).

Clause 67. A non-transitory storage medium including program code storedthereon, the program code is operable to configure at least oneprocessor in a location server in a core network for a wireless networkfor supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) in the wirelessnetwork, the program code comprising instructions to: receivepositioning capabilities for the UE in a first location session, thepositioning capabilities for the UE received from the UE in response toa request for positioning capabilities sent to the UE or receivedunsolicited from the UE, the positioning capabilities including anindication of whether the positioning capabilities are stable or arevariable; and enable storage of the positioning capabilities for the UEin the core network if the indication indicates that the positioningcapabilities are stable.

Clause 68. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 67, wherein theindication of whether the positioning capabilities are stable or arevariable identifies whether the positioning capabilities will be validover time or may change over time.

Clause 69. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 67, wherein theprogram code further comprises instructions to: perform a secondlocation session with the UE that is subsequent to the first locationsession; and obtain the positioning capabilities for the UE stored inthe core network to enable the performing of the second locationsession.

Clause 70. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 69, wherein theinstructions to enable storage of the positioning capabilities for theUE in the core network comprise instructions to store the positioningcapabilities in the location server.

Clause 71. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 70, wherein theprogram code further comprises instructions to: receive a first locationrequest for the UE for the first location session from a second entityin the core network, wherein the first location request comprises a UEidentification; store the UE identification in association with thepositioning capabilities in the location server; and receive a secondlocation request for the UE for the second location session from thesecond entity, wherein the second location request comprises the UEidentification, and wherein the instructions to obtain the positioningcapabilities for the UE stored in the core network uses the UEidentification.

Clause 72. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 71, wherein thelocation server is a Location Management Function (LMF) and the secondentity is an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF).

Clause 73. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 69, wherein theinstructions to enable storage of the positioning capabilities for theUE in the core network comprise instructions to send the positioningcapabilities to a second entity in the core network for storage in thesecond entity.

Clause 74. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 73, wherein theprogram code comprises instructions to send a location response for thefirst location session to the second entity, wherein the positioningcapabilities are included in the location response.

Clause 75. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 74, wherein theinstructions to obtain the positioning capabilities for the UE stored inthe core network comprise instructions to: receive a location requestfor the second location session from the second entity, wherein thelocation request includes the positioning capabilities for the UE storedin the second entity.

Clause 76. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 73, wherein thelocation server is a Location Management Function (LMF) and the secondentity is an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF).

Clause 77. A method performed by a first entity in a core network for awireless network for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) inthe wireless network, comprising: storing positioning capabilities forthe UE when the UE indicates that the positioning capabilities arestable; and sending a location request to a location server wherein thelocation request includes the stored positioning capabilities for theUE.

Clause 78. The method of clause 77, further comprising receiving aNon-Access Stratum (NAS) message from the UE, the NAS message includingthe positioning capabilities for the UE and an indication of whether thepositioning capabilities are stable or are variable.

Clause 79. The method of clause 78, wherein the positioning capabilitiesin the NAS message are included in a Long Term Evolution (LTE)Positioning Protocol (LPP) Provide Capabilities message included as aparameter in the NAS message.

Clause 80. The method of clause 77, further comprising receiving thepositioning capabilities for the UE for storage from a second entity inthe core network in response to the second entity receiving from the UEthe positioning capabilities for the UE and an indication that thepositioning capabilities are stable.

Clause 81. The method of clause 80, wherein the positioning capabilitiesare received in a location response sent by the second entity for afirst location session, and wherein the location request sent to thelocation server is for a second location session that is subsequent tothe first location session.

Clause 82. The method of clause 81, wherein the second entity is thelocation server.

Clause 83. The method of clause 81, wherein the second entity is asecond location server that is different than the location server.

Clause 84. The method of any of clauses 77-83, wherein the first entityis an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and the locationserver is a Location Management Function (LMF).

Clause 85. A first entity in a core network for a wireless networkconfigured for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) in thewireless network, comprising: an external interface configured towirelessly communicate with entities in the wireless network; at leastone memory; at least one processor coupled to the external interface andthe at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor isconfigured to: store positioning capabilities for the UE when the UEindicates that the positioning capabilities are stable; and send, viathe external interface, a location request to a location server whereinthe location request includes the stored positioning capabilities forthe UE.

Clause 86. The first entity of clause 85, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to receive, via the external interface,a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message from the UE, the NAS messageincluding the positioning capabilities for the UE and an indication ofwhether the positioning capabilities are stable or are variable.

Clause 87. The first entity of clause 86, wherein the positioningcapabilities in the NAS message are included in a Long Term Evolution(LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) Provide Capabilities message includedas a parameter in the NAS message.

Clause 88. The first entity of clause 85, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to receive, via the external interface, thepositioning capabilities for the UE for storage from a second entity inthe core network in response to the second entity receiving from the UEthe positioning capabilities for the UE and an indication that thepositioning capabilities are stable.

Clause 89. The first entity of clause 88, wherein the positioningcapabilities are received in a location response sent by the secondentity for a first location session, and wherein the location requestsent to the location server is for a second location session that issubsequent to the first location session.

Clause 90. The first entity of clause 89, wherein the second entity isthe location server.

Clause 91. The first entity of clause 89, wherein the second entity is asecond location server that is different than the location server.

Clause 92. The first entity of any of clauses 85-91, wherein the firstentity is an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and thelocation server is a Location Management Function (LMF).

Clause 93. A first entity in a core network for a wireless networkconfigured for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) in thewireless network, comprising: means for storing positioning capabilitiesfor the UE when the UE indicates that the positioning capabilities arestable; and means for sending a location request to a location serverwherein the location request includes the stored positioningcapabilities for the UE.

Clause 94. The first entity of clause 93, further comprising means forreceiving a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message from the UE, the NASmessage including the positioning capabilities for the UE and anindication of whether the positioning capabilities are stable or arevariable.

Clause 95. The first entity of clause 94, wherein the positioningcapabilities in the NAS message are included in a Long Term Evolution(LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) Provide Capabilities message includedas a parameter in the NAS message.

Clause 96. The first entity of clause 93, further comprising means forreceiving the positioning capabilities for the UE for storage from asecond entity in the core network in response to the second entityreceiving from the UE the positioning capabilities for the UE and anindication that the positioning capabilities are stable.

Clause 97. The first entity of clause 96, wherein the positioningcapabilities are received in a location response sent by the secondentity for a first location session, and wherein the location requestsent to the location server is for a second location session that issubsequent to the first location session.

Clause 98. The first entity of clause 97, wherein the second entity isthe location server.

Clause 99. The first entity of clause 97, wherein the second entity is asecond location server that is different than the location server.

Clause 100. The first entity of any of clauses 93-99, wherein the firstentity is an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and thelocation server is a Location Management Function (LMF).

Clause 101. A non-transitory storage medium including program codestored thereon, the program code is operable to configure at least oneprocessor in a first entity in a core network for a wireless network forsupporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) in the wireless network,the program code comprising instructions to: store positioningcapabilities for the UE when the UE indicates that the positioningcapabilities are stable; and send a location request to a locationserver wherein the location request includes the stored positioningcapabilities for the UE.

Clause 102. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 101, wherein theprogram code further comprises instructions to receive a Non-AccessStratum (NAS) message from the UE, the NAS message including thepositioning capabilities for the UE and an indication of whether thepositioning capabilities are stable or are variable.

Clause 103. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 102, wherein thepositioning capabilities in the NAS message are included in a Long TermEvolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) Provide Capabilities messageincluded as a parameter in the NAS message.

Clause 104. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 101, wherein theprogram code comprises instructions to receive the positioningcapabilities for the UE for storage from a second entity in the corenetwork in response to the second entity receiving from the UE thepositioning capabilities for the UE and an indication that thepositioning capabilities are stable.

Clause 105. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 104, wherein thepositioning capabilities are received in a location response sent by thesecond entity for a first location session, and wherein the locationrequest sent to the location server is for a second location sessionthat is subsequent to the first location session.

Clause 106. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 105, wherein thesecond entity is the location server.

Clause 107. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 105, wherein thesecond entity is a second location server that is different than thelocation server.

Clause 108. The non-transitory storage medium of any of clauses 101-107,wherein the first entity is an Access and Mobility Management Function(AMF) and the location server is a Location Management Function (LMF).

Clause 109. A method performed by a first entity in a core network for awireless network for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) inthe wireless network, comprising: receiving a location request for theUE; sending a location request message to a location server, wherein thelocation request message comprises an identification for the UE, whereinpositioning capabilities for the UE and the identification for the UEare stored by the location server when there is an indication from theUE that the positioning capabilities for the UE are stable.

Clause 110. The method of clause 109, wherein the identification for theUE is a Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI) or a PermanentEquipment Identifier (PEI) for the UE.

Clause 111. The method of clause 109, wherein the identification for theUE is an identifier generated by the first entity.

Clause 112. The method of any of clauses 109-111, wherein the firstentity is an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and thelocation server is a Location Management Function (LMF).

Clause 113. A first entity in a core network for a wireless networkconfigured for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) in thewireless network, comprising: an external interface configured towirelessly communicate with entities in the wireless network; at leastone memory; at least one processor coupled to the external interface andthe at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor isconfigured to: receive, via the external interface, a location requestfor the UE; send, via the external interface, a location request messageto a location server, wherein the location request message comprises anidentification for the UE, wherein positioning capabilities for the UEand the identification for the UE are stored by the location server whenthere is an indication from the UE that the positioning capabilities forthe UE are stable.

Clause 114. The first entity of clause 113, wherein the identificationfor the UE is a Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI) or a PermanentEquipment Identifier (PEI) for the UE.

Clause 115. The first entity of clause 113, wherein the identificationfor the UE is an identifier generated by the first entity.

Clause 116. The first entity of any of clauses 113-115, wherein thefirst entity is an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and thelocation server is a Location Management Function (LMF).

Clause 117. A first entity in a core network for a wireless networkconfigured for supporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) in thewireless network, comprising: means for receiving a location request forthe UE; means for sending a location request message to a locationserver, wherein the location request message comprises an identificationfor the UE, wherein positioning capabilities for the UE and theidentification for the UE are stored by the location server when thereis an indication from the UE that the positioning capabilities for theUE are stable.

Clause 118. The first entity of clause 117, wherein the identificationfor the UE is a Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI) or a PermanentEquipment Identifier (PEI) for the UE.

Clause 119. The first entity of clause 117, wherein the identificationfor the UE is an identifier generated by the first entity.

Clause 120. The first entity of any of clauses 117-119, wherein thefirst entity is an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and thelocation server is a Location Management Function (LMF).

Clause 121. A non-transitory storage medium including program codestored thereon, the program code is operable to configure at least oneprocessor in a first entity in a core network for a wireless network forsupporting positioning of a User Equipment (UE) in the wireless network,the program code comprising instructions to: receive a location requestfor the UE; send a location request message to a location server,wherein the location request message comprises an identification for theUE, wherein positioning capabilities for the UE and the identificationfor the UE are stored by the location server when there is an indicationfrom the UE that the positioning capabilities for the UE are stable.

Clause 122. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 121, wherein theidentification for the UE is a Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI)or a Permanent Equipment Identifier (PEI) for the UE.

Clause 123. The non-transitory storage medium of clause 121, wherein theidentification for the UE is an identifier generated by the firstentity.

Clause 124. The non-transitory storage medium of any of clauses 121-123,wherein the first entity is an Access and Mobility Management Function(AMF) and the location server is a Location Management Function (LMF).

While the foregoing disclosure shows illustrative aspects of thedisclosure, it should be noted that various changes and modificationscould be made herein without departing from the scope of the disclosureas defined by the appended claims. The functions, steps and/or actionsof the method claims in accordance with the aspects of the disclosuredescribed herein need not be performed in any particular order.Furthermore, although elements of the disclosure may be described orclaimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation tothe singular is explicitly stated.

1. A method performed by a User Equipment (UE) for supportingpositioning of the UE in a wireless network, comprising: receiving arequest for positioning capabilities message from a location server in acore network for the wireless network; and sending a provide positioningcapabilities message to the location server, the provide positioningcapabilities message comprising positioning capabilities of the UE andan indication as to whether the positioning capabilities of the UE arestable or are variable, wherein the positioning capabilities of the UEare stored in the core network when the indication indicates that thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stable.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the indication as to whether the positioning capabilities of theUE are stable or are variable identifies whether the positioningcapabilities of the UE will be valid over time or may change over time.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning capabilities of the UEare stored in the location server.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stored in a second entity in thecore network.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the location server is aLocation Management Function (LMF) and the second entity is an Accessand Mobility Management Function (AMF).
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the UE is an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) UE with fixedpositioning capabilities and the indication indicates that thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stable.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the request for positioning capabilities message is apositioning message for a first location session, wherein the indicationindicates that the positioning capabilities of the UE are stable, themethod further comprising: receiving positioning messages for a secondlocation session that is subsequent to the first location session,wherein the positioning messages for the second location session do notinclude a request for positioning capabilities message.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the second location session includes the locationserver.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the second location sessionincludes a second location server different to the location server. 10.A User Equipment (UE) configured for supporting positioning of the UE ina wireless network, comprising: a wireless transceiver configured towirelessly communicate with entities in the wireless network; at leastone memory; at least one processor coupled to the wireless transceiverand the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor isconfigured to: receive, via the wireless transceiver, a request forpositioning capabilities message from a location server in a corenetwork for the wireless network; and send, via the wirelesstransceiver, a provide positioning capabilities message to the locationserver, the provide positioning capabilities message comprisingpositioning capabilities of the UE and an indication as to whether thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stable or are variable, whereinthe positioning capabilities of the UE are stored in the core networkwhen the indication indicates that the positioning capabilities of theUE are stable.
 11. The UE of claim 10, wherein the indication as towhether the positioning capabilities of the UE are stable or arevariable identifies whether the positioning capabilities of the UE willbe valid over time or may change over time.
 12. The UE of claim 10,wherein the positioning capabilities of the UE are stored in thelocation server.
 13. The UE of claim 10, wherein the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stored in a second entity in the corenetwork.
 14. The UE of claim 13, wherein the location server is aLocation Management Function (LMF) and the second entity is an Accessand Mobility Management Function (AMF).
 15. The UE of claim 10, whereinthe UE is an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) UE with fixedpositioning capabilities and the indication indicates that thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stable.
 16. The UE of claim 10,wherein the request for positioning capabilities message is apositioning message for a first location session, wherein the indicationindicates that the positioning capabilities of the UE are stable, the atleast one processor is further configured to: receive positioningmessages for a second location session that is subsequent to the firstlocation session, wherein the positioning messages for the secondlocation session do not include a request for positioning capabilitiesmessage.
 17. The UE of claim 16, wherein the second location sessionincludes the location server.
 18. The UE of claim 16, wherein the secondlocation session includes a second location server different to thelocation server.
 19. A User Equipment (UE) configured for supportingpositioning of the UE in a wireless network, comprising: means forreceiving a request for positioning capabilities message from a locationserver in a core network for the wireless network; and means for sendinga provide positioning capabilities message to the location server, theprovide positioning capabilities message comprising positioningcapabilities of the UE and an indication as to whether the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable or are variable, wherein thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stored in the core network whenthe indication indicates that the positioning capabilities of the UE arestable.
 20. The UE of claim 19, wherein the indication as to whether thepositioning capabilities of the UE are stable or are variable identifieswhether the positioning capabilities of the UE will be valid over timeor may change over time.
 21. The UE of claim 19, wherein the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stored in the location server.
 22. The UE ofclaim 19, wherein the positioning capabilities of the UE are stored in asecond entity in the core network.
 23. The UE of claim 22, wherein thelocation server is a Location Management Function (LMF) and the secondentity is an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF).
 24. The UEof claim 19, wherein the UE is an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)UE with fixed positioning capabilities and the indication indicates thatthe positioning capabilities of the UE are stable.
 25. The UE of claim19, wherein the request for positioning capabilities message is apositioning message for a first location session, wherein the indicationindicates that the positioning capabilities of the UE are stable,further comprising: means for receiving positioning messages for asecond location session that is subsequent to the first locationsession, wherein the positioning messages for the second locationsession do not include a request for positioning capabilities message.26. The UE of claim 25, wherein the second location session includes thelocation server.
 27. The UE of claim 25, wherein the second locationsession includes a second location server different to the locationserver.
 28. A non-transitory storage medium including program codestored thereon, the program code is operable to configure at least oneprocessor in a User Equipment (UE) for supporting positioning of the UEin a wireless network, the program code comprising instructions to:receive a request for positioning capabilities message from a locationserver in a core network for the wireless network; and send a providepositioning capabilities message to the location server, the providepositioning capabilities message comprising positioning capabilities ofthe UE and an indication as to whether the positioning capabilities ofthe UE are stable or are variable, wherein the positioning capabilitiesof the UE are stored in the core network when the indication indicatesthat the positioning capabilities of the UE are stable.
 29. Thenon-transitory storage medium of claim 28, wherein the indication as towhether the positioning capabilities of the UE are stable or arevariable identifies whether the positioning capabilities of the UE willbe valid over time or may change over time.
 30. The non-transitorystorage medium of claim 28, wherein the request for positioningcapabilities message is a positioning message for a first locationsession, wherein the indication indicates that the positioningcapabilities of the UE are stable, the program code further comprisinginstructions to: receive positioning messages for a second locationsession that is subsequent to the first location session, wherein thepositioning messages for the second location session do not include arequest for positioning capabilities message.